Frederiksgade, Aarhus

In medieval times, a street extended southwards from Vadestedet (The Ford) at Immervad across a steep hill south of the Aarhus river. In the Middle Ages, a bridge was constructed at the ford and the street became known as Brobjerg ((lit. Bridge-hill)). The original housing along Brobjerg was constructed through the 1400s. In 1482, a sizeable Carmelite convent was built near the top of the hill, but following the Reformation in Denmark the convent fell on hard times and in 1541 it was demolished and the materials used for construction elsewhere.{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=59|loc=line 4|ps=: "...rejstes i middelalderen et karmeliterkloster med tilhørende kirke... oprettet 1482."}}{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=60|loc=line 1|ps=: "Efter reformationen blev klosteret vilkår vanskelige, og allerede 1541 var dets saga ude."}} Brobjerg was mostly settled by the 1600s, but during the occupation by Sweden during the Torstenson War, many buildings were torn down to get constructionmaterials for the defensive Skansepalæet.{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=60|loc=line 4|ps=: "Før svenskekrigene i det 17. århundrede har i hvert fald hele den venstre side af gaden været fuldt udbygget..."}}{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=60|loc=line 8|ps=: "Men under den fjendtlige besættelse i 1640erne blev de yderste ejendomme i gaden nedrevet af svenskerne og brugt til at opbygge eller udvide den såkaldte >>Wallensteins skanse<<..."}}{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=60|loc=line 10|ps=: "Efter den lange krigsperiode var næsten to tredjedele af byen >>spoleret<< og ikke mindst var det gået ud over Brobjerggaden."}}

In 1824, Brobjerg was renamed Frederiksgade after the Danish king Frederik VI (1768–1839) who was involved in the restoration of the city gate Brobjerg Port. The king decided upon the design of the new city gate and in honor of his visit the gate was renamed Frederiksport and the street was named Frederiksgade.{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=64|loc=line 10|ps=: "I 1824 fik Brobjerggade navneforandring til Frederiksgade. Årsagen var den at byporten, Brobjerg port skulle fornyes, og da Frederik VI var på besøg i byen, bad man ham udvælge den tegning, hvorefter porten skulle opføres, hvad han gjorde i landsfaderlig nåde..."}} Brobjerg had become an important thoroughfare in the city, with many large merchanthouses built here over the years.{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=64|loc=line 15|ps=: "Brobjerggade var langt tilbage i tiden en ret anselig gade med flere større gårde. Alligevel syntes den at have været i dårlig stand."}} However, in the 1800s it had fallen into disrepair and it was decided to renovate it. The old wooden bridge over the river was replaced by one of granite and by 1854 the project was completed.{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=64|loc=line 25|ps=: "Endnu i 1839 stod denne brolægningsproces på, bl.a. i forbindelse med opførelse af en ny kampestensbro over åen."}}{{Sfn|Sejr|1960|p=65|loc=line 5|ps=: "At gaden virkelig var forbedret ses af en skildring af Århus fra 1854"}}

Today, Frederiksgade has status of high-street with a commercial feel and many shops, boutiques, restaurants and bars. It is a major thoroughfare; the southern part is pedestrianized and the northern part is a cycle-street with priority for cyclists.

The most notable building on Frederiksgade is the listed building Herskind's House (Købmand Herskind's Gård). The house was built in approximately 1850 and was listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places by the Danish Heritage Agency on 2 October 1970.{{cite web|url=https://www.kulturarv.dk/fbb/sagvis.pub?sag=1096758|title=Købmand Herskinds Hus|publisher=Danish Heritage Agency|language=Danish|access-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083535/https://www.kulturarv.dk/fbb/sagvis.pub?sag=1096844|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live|df=}} The building consists of the main building and two other wings; a half-timbered back building from 1726 and another smaller building facing the street. The buildings have been owned by a series of merchants who expanded the property at different times. In 1865 a connection was constructed between the main house and the south-wing and in 1858 a low north-wing was built.{{cite web|url=http://www.fo-byen.dk/frederiksgade-79-historisk/|title=Frederiksgade 79 Historisk|publisher=FO-byen|language=Danish|access-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206215321/http://www.fo-byen.dk/frederiksgade-79-historisk/|archive-date=6 February 2016|url-status=dead|df=}}

Frederiksgade (Aarhus) 01.jpg|A look down Frederiksgade

The Golden Lion Pub.JPG|Many pubs and bars. The Golden Lion Pub

Teater Reflektion 01.jpg|Several small backyards. The theatre of Teater Refleksion

Frederiksgade 1.jpg|Frederiksgade no. 1

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• {{cite book|last=Sejr|first=Emanuel|title=Gamle Århusgader – Første samling|url=http://bibliotek.dk/linkme.php?rec.id=870970-basis%3A08443505|year=1960|publisher=Århus Byhistoriske Udvalg|isbn=87-504-0353-2}}

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{{Commons category|Frederiksgade (Aarhus)}}

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Category:Streets in Aarhus