The Story of Museum Wibergis
At the end of 2026, Viborg Museum will open the doors to an entirely new city museum in the Cathedral Quarter of Viborg. The museum will be named Museum Wibergis, meaning The Museum in Viborg. It will be housed in the former Western High Court building from 1920, beautifully situated opposite Viborg Cathedral.
From 2023 to 2026, the building is undergoing a transformation from a court of law into a modern museum. For nearly 100 years, the striking building designed by architect Kristoffer Varming in a Danish manor-house style served as one of Denmark’s two High Courts. In 2014, the Western High Court moved to new, larger and more modern premises on the eastern side of the Viborg Lakes. A few years later, Viborg Municipality purchased the vacant High Court building in the Cathedral Quarter with the aim of relocating Viborg Museum and creating a new narrative about Viborg and the city’s significance in Danish history.
From the early Middle Ages and for many centuries thereafter, Viborg was a centre of power – the Jutland hub of royal, ecclesiastical and judicial authority. As a result, Viborg holds an extraordinary wealth of compelling stories that connect directly to the broader history of Denmark.
The museum project is divided into two main parts. Viborg Municipality is responsible for the transformation of the building, while Viborg Museum is developing the new exhibitions. The building project has been entrusted to lead consultants Rønnow Arkitekter, working in collaboration with the Norwegian firm Reiulf Ramstad Arkitekter and EKJ Consulting Engineers.
Major Transformations and New Ways of Exhibiting
The former court building is undergoing significant changes. The ambition is to create a future‑proof museum with a strong focus on highly attractive exhibitions that make extensive use of modern technology.
The exhibitions at Museum Wibergis will cover approximately 1,200 square metres and present Viborg’s Danish‑historical narratives across twelve chapters. The story begins with an introductory exhibition about the city’s early development in the 11th century, followed by exhibition spaces dedicated to the history of power – focusing on the king, the church and the law. The exhibitions will be rich in atmosphere, using varied interpretive approaches such as animation, colour and music.
The narrative is supported by around 550 artefacts, approximately 100 of which are on loan from the National Museum of Denmark. Viborg Museum is developing the exhibitions in collaboration with, among others, Torden & Lynild, Creative Zoo, Lystek, and several companies from Viborg’s internationally recognised animation environment. The exhibition music is composed by Joachim Holbek.
Foundations Supporting the Exhibitions
Viborg Municipality is the developer responsible for the building renovation. The development of the exhibitions has been generously supported by the following foundations:
Queen Margrethe’s and Prince Henrik’s Foundation, the Augustinus Foundation, Aage and Johanne Louis‑Hansen’s Foundation, Nordea Foundation, Ole Kirk’s Foundation, Knud Højgaard’s Foundation, Jyllands‑Posten’s Foundation, Ege Foundation, Gangsted Foundation, Viborg Innovation Foundation, Dreyer Foundation, Spar Nord Foundation, and Viborg Citizens’ and Craftsmen’s Association.
Part of the Cathedral Quarter
Museum Wibergis is located in the heart of Viborg’s beautiful and historic Cathedral Quarter, next to the city’s old town hall. This atmospheric area, shaped by centuries of history, is currently undergoing a major transformation.
The development of the Cathedral Quarter is led by Viborg Municipality in close collaboration with Viborg Museum, the Skovgaard Museum, Viborg Cathedral and a wide range of other stakeholders. The vision is to establish the Cathedral Quarter as a coherent cultural destination of international standard, presenting Viborg’s history, art and architecture through revitalised urban spaces.
The area will include a welcome centre, café and temporary exhibition spaces in the old town hall, as well as a new visitor parking facility located behind Museum Wibergis.
