Editing Faaborg (section)

==History==
[[File:Faaborg Dyreborg.jpg|thumb|left|Dyreborg close to Faaborg in 1910]]
Faaborg is first mentioned as ''Foburgh''<ref name=lexopen>{{cite web|url=http://lexopen.dk/by/f/Faaborg.html|title=Faaborg|publisher=Lex Open|access-date=12 July 2014 |language=da}}</ref> in a document located in the [[Archives nationales (France)|French National Archives]] in [[Paris]] dated 25 June 1229. It is a deed of gift that gives Faaborg and the south of Funen as a [[Dower|morning present]] to [[Eleanor of Portugal, Queen of Denmark|Eleanor of Portugal]], from [[Valdemar II of Denmark|Valdemar II]] to his daughter-in-law.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Fyn/Faaborg|title=Faaborg|encyclopedia=Den Store Danske|access-date=12 July 2014 |language=da}}</ref> It is mentioned as a castle (Foburgh meaning Fox Castle), so it must have existed before this date.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitfaaborgmidtfyn.com/ln-int/faaborg/faaborg-idyllic-and-hollihocks|title=Faaborg is idyllic and with hollihocks!|publisher=Visit Faaborg Midtfyn|access-date=12 July 2014 }}</ref> However, this date has been used as the birth date of Faaborg and thus the town celebrated its 775th anniversary in 2004.<ref name="Fåborg2004">{{cite book|author=Fåborg|title=Faaborg by's 775 års jubilæum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FXipPgAACAAJ|year=2004|publisher=Ugeavisen Faaborg}}</ref>

Although it is not known when the settlement was established, it appears Faaborg had already received privileges as a market town in the 13th century. Located on a promontory surrounded by water on three sides, the site was further protected by a moat and a town wall. Around 1477, a monastery was established which over the years acquired most of the property in the town and its surroundings. After the [[Danish Reformation|Reformation]] it was used for a time as a hospital until it was finally demolished. The monastery chapel became the parish church.<ref name=lexopen/><ref name=dcbh>{{cite web|url=http://dendigitalebyport.byhistorie.dk/koebstaeder/by.aspx?koebstadID=7|title=Faaborg|publisher=Dansk Center for Byhistorie|access-date=12 July 2014 |language=da}}</ref>

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Faaborg had to compete with a considerable amount of illegal trading from other settlements along the coast. In the mid-17th century, it suffered even more from the effects of the [[Dano-Swedish War (1657–58)|Swedish Wars]] but it began to prosper as an important port in the 18th century. Corn was exported to Norway and trade increased with the Grand Duchies of [[Schleswig]] and [[Holstein]]. By the 1890s, ships from Faaborg sailed as far as the Mediterranean. In the 19th century, the United Kingdom replaced Norway as the main trading partner and, in the second half of the century, trade extended to China and Australia. By the end of the century, there had been a huge increase in population (from 1,000 to 4,000) and a number of light industries had been established. Many of the new inhabitants came from [[Schleswig]] and [[Holstein]] after these had been lost to Germany. They included many Jews who made Faaborg Funen's most Jewish community with its own synagogue.<ref name="Olsen2010">{{cite book|last=Olsen|first=Søren|title=Danmark - 4.000 oplevelser - historie/kultur/natur|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=enpsZFbB6CwC&pg=PA317|year=2010|publisher=Gyldendal A/S|isbn=978-87-02-07737-7|pages=317–}}</ref> With 50 employees, Dansk Vin- og Konservesfabrik (wine and canning) was the main business but traditional crafts and trading continued while the harbour was also enlarged. Steamship links with Copenhagen and Southern Jutland were established and in the 1880s railway connections were ensured with the other towns on the island.<ref name=dcbh/>

Growth was more modest in the 20th century in the face of competition from [[Odense]] and [[Svendborg]]. A few new industries emerged in food processing and metal working but tourism and services became the leading areas of growth. By 2007, Faaborg had 7,318 inhabitants.<ref name=dcbh/>