World Heritage
Jelling is one of Denmark's most important historical sites. In 1994 the
monuments were included on UNESCOs list of historical monuments
particularly worthy of preservation, the World Heritage List (thus joining
among other things Stonehenge and the Great Wall of China). |
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Did you know?
The Bluetooth technology was given its name because the Danish
King Harold Bluetooth led the efforts to unite the warring
powers in Denmark, Norway and southern Sweden. The logo for
Bluetooth combines what in the runic alphabet corresponds to
an H and a B. |
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The Jelling of the Viking Kings
In the tenth century, at the highest point in the landscape west of Vejle,
the kings Gorm the Old and Harold Bluetooth created a monument that is
unique in the Nordic context. The oldest feature is the remains of a huge
ship-shaped stone circle - then came the rune stones and the mounds, and
finally the church.
Gorm the Old's rune stone links the royal couple Gorm and Thyra to a
kingdom called Denmark. The story continues on Harold Bluetooth's rune
stone, which describes a central event in the history of Denmark: the
King's acceptance of Christianity on behalf of his whole people. For that
reason the stone is often called "Denmark's Certificate of Baptism".
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