Map of Lejre municipality
Lejre is a town with a population of 2,343 (1 January 2011)[1] and a municipality (Danish, kommune) on the island of Zealand in east Denmark. It belongs to Region Sjælland. The town's Old Norse name was Hleiðra. The municipality has an area of 240 km² and a total population of ca. 26,603 (2008). Its mayor is Mette Touborg, representing the Socialist Peoples Party . The municipal seat is Kirke Hvalsø.
[edit] Municipality
The current municipality was established on 1 January 2007 as a result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007), merging the former Lejre municipality with Bramsnæs and Hvalsø municipalities to form a new Lejre municipality. The former Lejre municipality covered an area of 88 km², and had a total population of 8,724 (2005). The mayor is Mette Touborg, representing the Socialist Peoples Party . Neighboring municipalities were Ramsø and Roskilde to the east, Bramsnæs to the north, Hvalsø to the west, and Hvalsø to the south. Most of the old municipality's northern border was defined by the waters of Roskilde Fjord. It belonged to Roskilde County.
[edit] History
Lejre was the capital of an Iron Age kingdom, the Lejre Kingdom, which was, according to legend, ruled by kings of the Skjöldung dynasty; it is assumed to be the predecessor of medieval Denmark. The legends of the kings of Lejre were written down in the 12th century Chronicon Lethrense. Lejre is assumed to have been the location of Heorot,[2] the royal hall mentioned in Beowulf and other myths that are set around the year 500. Archeological remains of large halls from this period have been found, as well as a sculpture supposed to depict Odin known as the Odin from Lejre.
[edit] Attractions
The municipality is home to the Land of legends (Sagnlandet Lejre), a center for experimental archaeology and education, which includes reconstructions and recreations from different periods of Denmark’s history— from pre-history to the time of the Vikings. The centerpiece of the facility is an Iron Age village reconstruction, complete with sacrificial bog. The center is open to the public.
[edit] Images
-
Lejre municipality is primarily rural.
-
-
Ledreborg palace, 19th century drawing
[edit] External links
- ^ BEF44: Population 1st January, by urban areas database from Statistics Denmark
- ^ Fulk et al. (2009). Klaeber's Beowulf and the Fight at Finnsburg, p. lviii. University of Toronto Press, Toronto. ISBN 9780802095671.
[edit] References
|
Towns of Lejre Municipality
|
|
|
|
|
Coordinates: 55°36′16″N 11°58′30″E / 55.60444°N 11.975°E / 55.60444; 11.975
