Discover South Jutland from The Ancient Road
In Jelling there are several sights that you can visit: the church, two monumental grave mounds and Denmark’s ”certificate of batism”, the rune stone that was erected by Harald Blåtand to honour his parents Gorm and Thyra. You can learn about this entire dramatic story in Jelling.
On Hærvejen in South Jutland
South of Jelling you pass the lake Fårup Sø, after which you hike through open landscape for a few kilometres before reaching the lowland Vejle Ådal and the green tunnel path Bindeballestien. The route continues through the plantation Frederikshåb, near the large heathland of Randbøl.
In Bække there is an exhibition about The Ancient Road’s history. Both next to the church of Bække and close to the church of Læborg further south, there are two rune stones.
South of Vejen, the iconic red and white bridge Frihedsbro leads across the watercourse Kongeaa. There is also a lodge at this location. The hiking route leads you further along the Kongeaa before turning southwards through open landscape and tree plantations towards the towns Rødekro, Aabenraa and Padborg. You can visit the Frøslevlejrens Museum and the Museum Oldemorstoft in Padborg.
We have collected a few local attractions here to inspire you.
Local attractions on The Ancient Road hiking route from Jelling to Padborg
The Jelling Monuments (UNESCO)
In the tenth century, King Harald Bluetooth had Denmark’s name engraved on a rune stone in Jelling and erected two barrows and a church. The Jelling Monuments have enjoyed UNESCO World Heritage patron...
Kongernes Jelling – home of the Viking kings
The Kongernes Jelling (home of the Viking kings) experience centre at the Jelling Monuments invites the whole family to explore Jelling of the Viking Age. Through unique and modern digital sensory exp...
Jelling - Viking town and world heritage
Jelling is a station town with approx. 3,600 inhabitants, located approx. 10 kilometers northwest of Vejle. Jelling is a quaint little town visited by more than 150,000 tourists annually, and not with...
Vingsted Lake
Vingsted Lake is located on the outskirts of Vejle Ådal and was previously used as a weapon sacrifice bog. It is possible to fish in the lake where pike, perch and shells live. Nearby you will also fi...
Ravning Station - tent site
The tent site is located near the disused railway station of Ravning Station in a former garden encircled by trees and hedges. Bathroom and water facilities are found near the station, and there is sp...
Vejle Ådal
Vejle Ådal, which is the largest of the area's tunnel valleys, offers fantastic nature experiences and cultural-historical highlights.
The largest town in Vejle Ådal is Egtved with approx. 2,400 inhabi...
The Ravning Bridge
King Harald Bluetooth and his people built a mighty bridge over the valley of Vejle Ådal around 980. At the site in Ravning Enge you can visit a reconstruction of two of the bridgeheads. The Raven Bri...
Troldborg Ring (Bronze Age fortress)
Troldborg Ring is a circular Iron Age fortress which is located on a hill prominence, raised 70 meters above valley of Vejle Ådal, and with a very steep fall down towards the ford over the river valle...
Old grocer’s shop Bindeballe Købmandsgård
The old grocer's shop, Bindeballe Købmandsgård, is today a combined merchant museum and general grocery store. Both inside and outside, the signs, exhibits and fixtures remind us of its history.
Bindeballe Station
Bindeballe Station was one of the stops along the old Vejle-Vandel railway, which has since been repurposed as a hiking and cycling route.
Heaths of Randbøl Hede and Frederikshåb Plantation
Randbøl Heath and Frederikshåb Plantage are located approx. 10 km southeast of Billund and offer a wealth of nature experiences. Here you can experience Randbøl Hede, which is one of Denmark's largest...
The Hamborggård Rock, Bække
The Hamborggård Rock is located north of Bække close to the Ancient Road.
Ancient Road exhibition, Bække
The former bus station in Bække is home to a highly informative exhibition on the Ancient Road, which offers insight into the course of the road and the life that unfolded along it.
The Bække Monuments, Klebæk Høje
Located on the northern outskirts of the village of Bække in South Jutland, Klebæk Høje is an archaeological site that consists of two domed barrows from the Bronze Age and a Viking Age stone ship wit...
A preserved section of the Ancient Road, Bække
Just north of the village of Bække, by the parking lot west of the Ribe-to-Vejle road, you find a very authentic section of the Ancient Road. Here you can still see how the road originally cut through...
The Ancient Road Chronology
Hærvejens tidstavle (The Ancient Road Chronology) is the title of the 3.4-meter tall ceramic bass-relief that hangs on the west gable of the building next to Bække Church used by confirmands.
The Rune Stone by Læborg Church
t was found in the 1600s and erected in the cemetery by the church porch. The stone, which someone has attempted to split, was previously
Vildtbanestenen ved Læborg
Når du kommer vandrende eller cyklende langs Hærvejsruten mellem Bække/Asbo og Læborg, så kan du mod øst bag nyplantede juletræer og et tre-rækket læhegn skimte en gammel gravhøj med en stor stenpæl p...
Vejen Art Museum
Vejen Art Museum is dedicated to Danish Symbolism / Skønvirke (a Danish version of Art Nouveau) from around 1900.
Skibelund Krat
Skibelund Krat is today a monumental park. The location was established in 1865 after the loss of Southern Jutland to Prussia and was used as a gathering place for celebrations.
Freedom Brige - Kongeåen
A concrete construction from 1924, Frihedsbroen (Freedom Bridge) crosses the river of Kongeåen, allowing wayfarers to travel between Københoved and Askov.
Next to the bridge, the characteristic red-a...
Kongeåen – nature
Kongeåen is a relatively short, 60 km river. The wellspring of the river is located east of Vejen and flows west to the Wadden Sea.
Dresvold, the castle mounds at Skodborg
Dresvold by Skodborg is one of the many anonymous castle mounds in southern Jutland.
Skodborghus
Skodborghus was once a castle located by a low-lying riverbank in the valley of Kongeådalen.
Knagemøllen
'Æ Knagemøllen', which is located about 3 km south of the motorway, is one of the most picturesque buildings by the river of Kongeåen.
Domænegården, Lundsgård
Lundsgård was one of the 36 Southern Jutland tenant farms (domænegård) during the period from 1864 to 1920 when the area was under Prussian/German rule. In 1873, German became the official language of...
Pilgrim’s shelter in Skodborg Præsteskov
The pilgrim’s shelter in the woods of Skodborg Præsteskov offers tables and benches, under roof as well as in the open, where you are welcome to take a rest from your hike and enjoy your food.
Bov museum "Told- og Grænsemuseet"
Oldemorstoft is located at the intersection of the old Hærvej and Gendarmstien in Padborg.
Bov Svømmehal
Bov Indoor pool consists of a 25 meter pool.
We can offer sauna.
The swimming pool has constant supervision by lifeguards during the regu...
The Home Guard Museum
The self-governing institution "Hjemmeværnsmuseet" was established in 1988 in the historic Frøslev Camp and is a nationwide cultural-historical museum that houses the historical exhibition of the Home...
