Holiday apartment in Mariagerfjord Municipality: Between fjord, forest and history

Mariagerfjord Municipality is particularly easy to explore via its routes: The route around Mariager Fjord passes through fjord landscapes, towns and historic areas in Mariagerfjord. It runs mainly along cycle paths and lightly trafficked country roads; some sections lead over gravel and forest tracks.

Cycling

A distinctive connection between coast and forest is the Villestrup Å Route. The approximately 30-kilometre A-to-B route begins in Stinesminde on Mariager Fjord and ends in Rebild Bakker in the heart of Rold Skov. Along the way, fields, forests, streams and landscapes with beautiful views alternate. The Ajstrup Route is shorter: The combined cycling and hiking route runs for 5 kilometres from Hadsund to Ajstrup Bay.

Nature

The area can also be explored on foot on routes of varying lengths. The panoramic route begins at the marina in Hobro and leads through a varied landscape with elevated viewpoints and nature trails along the fjord. It is clearly signposted and can be completed by most hikers in around three hours.

The Mariager Route is 12.2 kilometres long and leads through the streets, natural landscapes and historic sights of Mariager. It passes the old Mariager Monastery and Hohøj, considered the largest Bronze Age burial mound in Northern Europe. There are also views of Mariager Fjord, Mariager’s preserved town centre and the rose garden with numerous colourful flowers. At Katbjerg Odde, another hike leads through hilly terrain and old broadleaf forests, crossing winding streams, calcareous springs and flower-rich dry meadows.

By the water lies Øster Hurup, home to one of the most family-friendly bathing beaches on the east coast. The beach has shallow, calm water and soft sand. The southern part of Rold Skov lies in Mariagerfjord and offers deep forests, hilly terrain, as well as opportunities for hiking, cycling and nature experiences.

Culture and history

In Hobro, Kunstetagerne Hobro is a museum of modern art and design housed in Bie’s former brewery from 1857. The changing exhibitions present Danish and international contemporary art. Fyrkat provides a much older historical landmark: The site is one of the five Viking Age ring fortresses in the UNESCO World Heritage Site that were built around 970–980 AD. An admission ticket to Viking Museum Fyrkat provides access to the chieftain’s farmstead with lively reconstructions, the mill yard with the museum exhibitions and the nearby Viking fortress.

The Mariager-Handest Heritage Railway runs historic trains between Mariager and Handest on Denmark’s longest museum railway. Havnø Mølle is also closely connected with the region’s history: a thatched Dutch windmill dating from 1842. It is the oldest still-operating windmill in Northern Jutland. After extensive restoration from 1995 to 2001, it opened as a working museum mill and is situated in an attractive landscape between Mariager Fjord and Lounkær Skov.

In summer, guided tours of Havnø Mølle are available on selected Wednesdays. On special milling days, flour is milled there and sold under the name “Havnø møllemel”. Thus, the building, landscape, demonstration and a regionally named mill product come together at the same historic site.

Salt and living museums

Mariager Saltcenter combines salt exhibitions and traditional crafts with a salt bath and family activities by the fjord. Mariager Sydesalt is made by hand from underground brine. This brine comes from a region that was covered by the sea around 260 million years ago. The Saltcenter also includes a reconstruction of an old Polish salt mine with the FunRide film underground.

Cirkusmuseet i Rold is housed in the former winter quarters of Circus Miehe. This former winter quarters building is Denmark’s only preserved wooden circus building. The permanent exhibition focuses on Danish circus history and displays posters, objects and circus costumes. At Artistens Værksted, visitors can try circus arts for themselves. The museum’s riding house was built in 1912 as part of Cirkus Miehe’s winter residence.

Further local pages lead to Als, Helberskov, Astrup and Glenstrup.

To the higher-level travel overview: Northern Jutland.