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FACTS
Signposting:
Snoghøj - Sønderborg: Baltic Sea Cycle Route ("Østersøruten")
Sønderborg - Padborg: national route no. 8
Stretches in South Jutland:
Snoghøj - Sønderborg: 174 km
Sønderborg - Padborg: 37 km
SNOGHØJ - KOLDING (26 km)
North of the old Little Belt Bridge (1935) is Fredericia, which was established as a residence and fortress by King Frederik III in 1650. Fredericia's impressive ramparts - the best preserved in Northern Europe - encircle the whole of the inner town, which is distinguished by straight streets, low houses and churches without spires. Madsby Legepark is packed with free activities for young and old alike and has "The Historical Mini-town" - a miniature replica of Fredericia as it was in 1849. Fredericia also has the only museum of civil bunkers from the Second World War in Denmark, a viewing tower and a fascinating museum of local history.
On the way to Kolding, the route goes through Skærbæk, an old fishing village with a harbour atmosphere. Kolding is a modern market town, but it also preserves its long and distinguished history. The impressive royal castle of Koldinghus, from 1926, has been superbly renovated and is now a museum displaying art from as far back as the middle ages. The Trapholt museum of art is Jutland's pride and joy in regard to modern art and furniture design, and keen gardeners will enjoy the exotic plants at the Geographical Garden. By Kolding Fjord there is the Danish Nursing Museum, and the playground Legeparken, with innumerable things for children and the young at heart to do, is close to the lake called Slotssøen.
KOLDING - HADERSLEV (72 km)
The stretch between Kolding and Haderslev is very varied, with hills and dales as well as steep coasts eroded by the sea and flat coasts with excellent sandy beaches. The highest point of Southern Jutland, Skamlingsbanken (113 m above sea level) is 8 km north of Christiansfeld. The view from this national assembly point is simply fantastic.
Christiansfeld was founded in 1773 by the Moravian Brethren, and today is on the UNESCO observation list of world cultural treasures. Severity, simplicity and aesthetics distinguish the buildings - the church interior in Brødremenighedens Kirke provides an excellent example. In the cross-shaped graveyard "Gudsageren" ("God's Acre"), the deceased members of the community rest in peace, the sisters to the right and the brothers to the left. All the headstones are the same - a symbol that all humans are equal. Christiansfeld is also the birthplace of the original honey cake, first baked in 1783. In the Reunification and Border Museum you can find out about the fascinating and unsettled history of the area.
A distinctive feature of Haderslev is the many beautiful and well-preserved houses - which have won the town the Europa Nostra Prize - the oldest of which dates from as far back as 1570. The hallmark of the town is the outstanding thirteenth-century cathedral, which has an altar cloth and chasuble designed by Queen Margrethe II. You can see the largest collection of pottery in Northern Europe, Ehlers Samlingen, or the largest collection of archaeological finds in Haderslev Museum. Slesvigske Vognsamling displays vehicles from 1700 to 1900. In the summer, the fjord boat Helene sails out of the fjord to Årø. You can take your bicycle on board, and we recommend a ride around Årø.
HADERSLEV - AABENRAA (36 km)
On the rolling stretches, cyclists will need to use their low gears, but the beautiful scenery more than compensates for the effort. Halfway between Haderslev and Aabenraa is Slivsø, the third largest lake in Southern Jutland. From the numerous hills and ridges on the Løjt Land Peninsula there are lovely views of Genner Bugt, Aabenraa Fjord and, towards Fyn, the Little Belt. This stretch also offers woods, a medieval windmill (Rundemølle), the idyllic island of Kalvø - a lovely spot to take a break - and in Løjt Kirkeby, a thirteenth century church.
The route to Aabenraa follows "Knapstien" - a gravelled cycling and walking track that goes through woods and gentle hills. The track has been laid on the disused narrow-gauge railway "Æ Kleinbahn", which served the area from Aabenraa through Løjt Kirkeby to Øster Løgum from 1899 to 1926.
Aabenraa is an old harbour and seafaring town with well-preserved old streets. The town is in a lovely setting at the base of the fjord, surrounded by wooded hills formed by the old ice front zone down through Jutland. At the Southern Jutland Museum of Seafaring there are displays of archaeological finds, models ships and mariners' souvenirs. The renovated Brundlund Castle, originally built for Margrethe I in 1411, is now an art museum. Near the entrance to the castle there is a water mill, which is used as a café at weekends. Aabenraa also has the longest pedestrian street in Denmark.
AABENRAA - SØNDERBORG (40 km)
To the south of Aabenraa is Krusmølle, a farm open to the public where the attractions include a candle-making studio. A detour through Varnæs to Varnæs Hoved is also recommended, not least for the delightful view over Aabenraa Fjord. There are lots of great places in this area to stop for a picnic lunch. At Ballebro the lovely old inn Færgekro has been restored in the style of 1800. A little ferry goes from here to Als.
On the way to Søndeborg you can see Sandbjerg Castle, one of the most beautiful palaces in Southern Jutland. The grounds are open to the public and offer wonderful views of Als Sound. 8 km from Sønderborg is Nydam Mose, which was a sacred sacrificial lake in the Iron Age. It was here that the Iron Age Nydam Boat was found in 1863. Today it is on display at Gottorp Castle in Schleswig. By the bog there is a little house where some of the artefacts found are on display.
The largest town in the area, Sønderborg is in a beautiful location by Als Sound. Sønderborg Castle is one of the oldest extant royal castles in Jutland (11th century) and has the oldest Renaissance church interior in Scandinavia as well as several exhibitions.
SØNDERBORG - PADBORG (37 km)
In the historical centre at Dybbøl Banke you can see events related to the Danish defeat at the Battle of Dybbøl Mill in 1864, and in the mill itself, one of the most powerful of Danish national symbols, there are several exhibitions and a splendid view of the entrenchments.
As you approach Broager, you will see the whitewashed twin-spired Broager Church, dating from the 1200s. A little to the south of Broager is Catherinesminde Teglværksmuseum, a brickworks founded in 1732.
The delightful little town of Gråsten surrounds Gråsten Castle, the summer residence of the royal family. When the royal family is not in residence, the lovely grounds and the castle church are open to the public.
The trip continues with superb panoramic views across Flensborg Fjord. Rinkenæs boasts one of the oldest churches in the country (1158) and in the summer ferries sail from Sønderhav out to the little island of Store Okseø. The route now follows a section of the Gendarmsti, a track used by the border guards on food between 1920 and 1958, before continuing through Kollund and Kollund Woods, where there is a charming border crossing at Skomagerhus, and then to the border town of Kruså.
The area around Padborg bears witness to the changing tides of history in the border region. At Frøslevlejrens Museum, for example, there is a well-preserved German internment camp from the Second World War, and Bov Museum - a museum of local history containing an extensive collection of agriculture and a number of items related to the border guards.
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