Kongensbro by the Gudenå: Trails, Water and History

Kongensbro connects the Gudenå with a variety of trails, canoe routes and an unusually vivid transport history. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can choose the location according to their own travel plans: For hikers, Trækstien and Krominoen are the main attractions, while canoeists should consider the Gudenå and Kongensbro campsite. Historical traces are also part of the character of the place.

Gudenå, Tange Sø and a long history

The landscape around Kongensbro is shaped by the Gudenå. Between Kongensbro and Tange, an 800-metre-long dam impounded the river, creating Tange Sø. Those interested in the development of the area will also encounter a history closely connected with the river crossing. Kongensbro has long been a transport hub on the Gudenå: Travellers crossed the river here and could eat at the inn.

There has been an inn in Kongensbro since 1663. At that time, King Frederik III granted Ebbe Gyldenstierne the right to operate an inn on the banks of the Gudenå. The important road between Århus and Viborg also crossed the Gudenå at Kongensbro. These historical connections give the place more than a purely natural setting and make it interesting for travellers who want to combine active days with regional history.

Hiking on Trækstien and Krominoen

Trækstien is a 70-kilometre hiking trail between Silkeborg and Randers. It runs close to the Gudenå and passes through varied natural landscapes. For the section between Silkeborg and Kongensbro, the trail is expected to be dry and walkable for approximately ten months of the year. This is a useful guide for planning your trip, but does not replace checking the current conditions.

A shorter, clearly described hiking option is Krominoen. This 21.1-kilometre hiking experience leads from Silkeborg to Kongensbro. The Krominoen day hike includes breakfast and lunch as well as a draught beer or a non-alcoholic drink. After the hike, coffee and cake are also served at Kongensbro Kro. This makes it possible to plan a hiking day with fixed culinary stops without overloading the route description with your own catering details.

Despite the long, elevated wooden section, there are no steps or stairways along Trækstien. This makes the trail suitable for prams, bicycles, wheelchairs and walking frames. At the same time, cycling is not permitted on the section between Kongensbro and Randers because the path there is designated as a footpath in a protected area. When choosing your accommodation, it is therefore important to consider whether you mainly want to focus your stay on hiking or cycling tours.

Canoeing and staying overnight by the Gudenå

Kongensbro can also be deliberately included in a trip on the water. The northern canoe route on the Gudenå includes a seven-kilometre section from Tvilum Bro to Kongensbro. It reaches Kongensbro and passes underneath the road between Århus and Viborg there. Kongensbro campsite is located directly by the Gudenå and offers overnight accommodation for travellers with canoes or kayaks.

The campsite has toilet facilities, water, fire pits, tables and benches, as well as electricity. Advance booking is required for overnight stays in the shelters at Kongensbro. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Kongensbro can instead choose their accommodation according to their preferred type of holiday and treat the water route as a planned day or trip component.

Special discoveries around Kongensbro

South of Kongensbro, Æ Swot can be seen. The object was recently restored and reinstalled with new signage. It is a tarred post with a fixed iron roller. Using a rope, towpath haulers used this device to steer the barges around bends in the river. This small, tangible insight complements the major landscape themes with a detail from the Gudenå’s former use.

From Kongensbro campsite, follow Trækstien northwards underneath the bridge. After about one kilometre, you reach a bench and an information board; a further 150 metres to the east is a clearing in the coniferous forest. There, Stævnstenen and the Rælingsstenene form Denmark’s second-largest ship setting. If you choose accommodation for several days, such varied destinations can determine the rhythm: a hiking day by the Gudenå, a canoe route or an exploration of historical traces.

Further destinations for orientation: Store Bredlund, Vrads, Bording, Ans, Guldforhoved, Bryrup, Kjellerup, Them Municipality.

For the higher-level travel overview: Silkeborg Municipality.