city, southwestern Jutland, Denmark, on the Ribe River, 4 miles (6 km) from the North Sea. It is one of Denmark's oldest towns: the earliest archaeological finds there date to the 8th century, when it was a seasonal trading post. First mentioned in 862, it became a bishopric in 948. In the Middle Ages it was a thriving port and favourite royal resort, centred on Riberhus (a castle founded in the early 12th century and destroyed by the Swedes in 1658). The Romanesque Ribe Cathedral dates from 1122 to 1170. The church and monastery of St. Catharinæ were founded in 1228. Many half-timbered houses date from the 16th and 17th centuries, including one that served as a school from 1500 to 1856. Ribe is located in an agricultural and dairying region. Local industries include iron founding, food processing, and textile mills; tourism is also important. The crusading American journalist Jacob A. Riis (Riis, Jacob A) was a native of Ribe. Pop. (2008 est.) 8,229.