Riis Skov

The Forest of Riis (Riis Skov)
Risskov
Forest
Typical scenery in the beech forest of Riis Skov.
Official name: Riis Skov
Country	Denmark
Region	Central Denmark Region
District	Risskov
Municipality	Aarhus
Part of	Scandinavia
City	Aarhus
Building	Inn, Hostel, Assembly pavilion, Sea-baths, Forest ranger Residence
Area	0.8 km2 (0 sq mi)
Wikimedia Commons: Riis Skov

Riis Skov (Riis' Forest or The Forest of Riis) is a forest and park in Århus, Denmark. It is located south of the district of Risskov along the Bay of Aarhus.

History

This small patch of forest, was formally presented to Aarhus in 1395, by Queen Margaret I.^[1] Riis Skov was the first public forest in Denmark, where forests traditionally were owned and managed by the Royal family or the nobility and in some cases ordinary farmers, who exploited their important resources as timber for shipbuilding, house constructions and various structures or simply for collecting firewood. Although Riis Skov was a public forest, there were still an active forestry going on until around the year 1800, when the large oaks here, was cut and used for quay-building in the Aarhus harbour. The forestry aspect gradually diminished and Riis Skov were increasingly viewed and used as a recreational area by the citizens.

Recreation

Riis Skov have a long cultural history as a recreational area for Aarhus and its citizens and several buildings in the forest still stands as witnesses; The public sea-bath "Den Permanente" from 1933, the inn of "Sjette Frederiks Kro" (named after King Frederik VI) from 1825,^[2] Aarhus Citizens Shooting Associations headquarters from 1881 and the old Dancing Pavillon from 1869, now a hostel.^[3] The forest is a protected area and the commercial forestry activities are limited nowadays.

Nature

The forest is largely dominated by beech, but with oak, larch, maple, ash and birch mixed in at some places. Although beech is dominant, Riis Skov is not a natural beech forest and new trees are planted occasionally to replenish the old growth.

As a curiosity Riis Skov is covered by ramsons in the spring. It is said, that this culinary plant was brought here by camping Spanish soldiers during the Napoleonic wars. While Spanish soldiers indeed camped in Aarhus, ramson have been growing in Denmark since the last glacial period and it might have been here in Riis Skov since the 1200s, before the Spaniards came along.

References

Sources

• Excursions in Riis Skov (pdf) Aarhus Municipality (Naturemanagement) (2004) (Danish)

External links

• Excursions in Riis Skov (pdf) Aarhus Municipality (Naturemanagement) (2004) (Danish)

Coordinates: 56°10′40″N 10°13′30″E / 56.17778°N 10.22500°E / 56.17778; 10.22500