The
Green Lagoon
The Green Lagoon
area – the peninsular between Horsens and Juelsminde
– is one of the most beautiful regions in Denmark.
The Green Lagoon
area – the peninsular between Horsens and Juelsminde
– is one of the most beautiful regions in Denmark.
Beautifully
located on the shores of one of the loveliest fjords in
Denmark, Horsens is particularly attractive place to visit.
And as a holiday resort, Horsens is truly a town of opportunity,
offering a wealth of activities and cultural attractions.
In the fjord are the delightful islands of Hjarnø,
Vorsø and Alrø. And just outside the fjord
is the idyllic island of Endelave and its special kind of
peace and quiet.
Snaptun is an
idyllic little ferry port and fishing village that lies
by the entrance to Horsens Fjord. On the way along the coast
from Snaptun to Juelsminde is the Palsgaard estate, set
in a beautiful park. At the start of August every year,
open-air theatrical performances are staged in the park.
Juelsminde is a well-known and popular holiday resort with
beaches your children will love and plenty of activities
on offer in the charming town. There are shops, cafés,
design studios and a marina.
On the way back
across the peninsular to Horsens from Juelsminde, take a
little detour to Staksrode Forest, which contains trees
and plants – including a selection of rare orchids
– from many different countries. Close to this stretch
of forest is Stenhøj beach with its deep gorges and
steep cliffs – a perfect place for onshore fishing
or walks along the beach.
Back on the road
to Horsens, in the middle of the Green Lagoon, lies the
village of Bjerre which contains a number of attractions
including the only preserved tiled windmill in Denmark.
This mill was built in 1860 and was in use until as recently
as 1955.
The highest point
in Denmark, the 173 metre-high Yding Skovhøj, is
just a few kilometres north-west of Horsens, on the way
to Østbirk. From the top of this hill, there is a
breathtaking view over the Gudenå river valley and
the Søhøjland region. There are also signposted
paths in the Yding woods. On the way to Østbirk,
you will be able to see the lovely ”Julianelyst”
country manor, which, like Urup Hovedgård, lies close
to the road. Visit the churchyard in Østbirk and
see the final resting place of the Danish naval hero Peder
Skram. In Vestbirk, close to the Gudenå river, there
is the hydro-electric power station and the deep gravel
pits that are now ”Put & Take” fishing lakes.
In the same region
are the Slaggård Banks, nine large, flat-topped Iron
Age mounds. Thought to have once been used in religious
ceremonies, these mounds are now fenced off. Visitors are
allowed to enter the enclosure, where roe deer also graze
– they are not dangerous. A kilometre away lies Vorbjerg,
a collection of a dozen or so Bronze Age burial mounds.
Follow the little path down to these mounds and see how
the grazing of the sheep has kept trees from growing in
the area. The landscape contains pathes of heather, and
the view from the mounds resembles that from the Slaggård
Banks – you can see down into the Gudenå river
valley to the west and cover to Horsens in the south-east.
To the east of
Horsens, on the way to Odder, is the charming village of
Søvind. From Brigsted Beach, there is a wonderful
view out over the fjord to the island of Vorsø. A
little further to the east lies the village of Sondrup,
and, on the edge of the fjord, the idyllic fishing village
of Sondrup Strand. In the large areas of woodland here,
and in the hills known as Sondrup Bakker and Uldrup Bakker,
there is a network of signposted paths and a number of points
from which the views are superb. This hilly region is one
of the most beautiful stretches of countryside in Denmark,
and it is here that you can find ”Åkjær”,
one of the largest and finest manors in the country.
Horsens’
location in the heart of Denmark makes it a perfect starting-out
point for day trips to all kinds of different destinations.
Visit the extensive Djurs Sommerland amusement park, go
aboard the beautiful, restored wooden frigate Jutland, or
explore the underwater delights of the sea at the Kattegat
Centre. Legoland, Givskud Safari Park, and Hans Christian
Andersen’s home town of Odense are all not far away,
as is the smallest ”big city” in the world –
Århus, with its Old Town, the Moesgård prehistoric
museum and much, much more. All these destinations are no
more than an hour’s drive away from Horsens.
by Ralf Jenson
Horsen Polytechnic, Denmark
