Viborg [ˈʋib̥ɒːˀ], is a town located in central Jutland, Denmark. It is the seat of both Viborg municipality and Region Midtjylland. Viborg is also the seat of the Western High Court, the High Court for the Jutland peninsula. Viborg is one of the oldest towns in Denmark, with Viking settlements dating back to the 8th century. Due to its central location, the town had great strategic importance, in political and religious matters, during the Middle Ages. A motte-and-bailey type castle was once located in the town. Viborg takes its name from a combination of two words: Wii, meaning a holy place and berg, meaning a hill. Viborg is famous for its cathedral. The construction of the cathedral started in 1130 and lasted about 50 years. The building has burned to the ground and been re-built several times. Only the crypt of the original cathedral is still preserved. The newest parts of the church are from 1876. The cathedral is famous for its many paintings by Danish painter Joakim Skovgaard depicting stories from the bible. Next to the cathedral is the Joakim Skovgaard Museum. Before the Protestant Reformation Viborg was the home of five monasteries (one for Augustine brothers and one for Augustine sisters, a Franciscan monastery, a Dominican monastery and a monastery for the Knights Hospitaller), about 12 parish churches, several chapels and of course the Cathedral. Today only the Cathedral and a few remains of the Franciscan monastery and the Dominican monastery are left.