Thisted

Thisted lies in Thy beside the Limfjord in northern Jutland. Traces of a medieval trading place dating from the thirteenth century have been found beneath the town centre. In 1374 Thisted was described as a village and, with nearby Hovsør, served as a shipping place for the surrounding countryside. The bishops of Børglum maintained a residence here, and in 1524 King Frederick I confirmed Thisted's market-town privileges. The town had a mayor and council by that year, while Hovsør remained a commercial rival. Navigation on the Limfjord was difficult, and fires in 1608 and 1620 and a flood in 1622 hindered growth. The wars of the seventeenth century also affected the town, including Swedish incursions in 1644 and 1658.