Astrup – Monastery Route, Madum Sø and Astrup Church

Astrup combines distinctive church architecture with varied landscapes and several opportunities to explore the surrounding area on foot. Astrup Church has an octagonal tower containing two bells. The surrounding area also offers the trails of the Danish Monastery Route, Madum Sø with its clear waters, and characteristic landscape formations such as the terminal moraine hills of Astrup Nørskov.

Hiking on the Danish Monastery Route

For a trip to Astrup, the Danish Monastery Route offers various sections. The section between Astrup and Skørping is approximately 20 km long. Another section leads from Astrup Church to Langmose and is 3.2 km long. From Astrup Church, the Danish Monastery Route initially follows cycle route 27, the Bælum Route. It then passes through Elsehøj Plantation and close to Langmose.

You can take these different route lengths into account when planning your day. Anyone who wants to focus on a shorter tour can plan the section from Astrup Church to Langmose. For a longer hike, the approximately 20 km section to Skørping is the main option. This allows you to adapt the exact route to your preferred daily rhythm without having to commit to just one type of holiday.

Madum Sø and distinctive nature in the surrounding area

The 8.6 km circular walk around Madum Sø runs through the area surrounding Astrup. The route is marked with blue triangles. At Madum Sø, there is a large car park with a view of the lake; from there, a marked trail leads around the body of water. The lake is a popular inland bathing lake and is therefore suitable as a separate day-trip destination alongside the hiking trails.

Madum Sø derives its distinctive character from its unusually clear, nutrient-poor water. It is a lobelia lake where the two-flowered water lobelia grows. Langmose is also notable for its landscape: it is one of the few remaining raised bogs in Denmark. Anyone wishing to combine nature observation, exercise and a day of swimming during a trip will find various possibilities around Astrup.

Church, settlement history and landscape formations

Astrup Church is an Early Renaissance church that combines elements of Romanesque and Gothic architecture. It therefore complements the natural experiences with a cultural point of interest. In the historical classification of Hindsted Herred, Astrup is described as a torp, meaning an outlying settlement, from the expansion period between 1100 and 1300.

In the surrounding area, Astrup Nørskov features a series of parallel, elongated terminal moraine hills. Another large-scale natural landmark is Rold Skov: the forest is part of the Natura 2000 area “Rold Skov, Lindenborg Ådal and Madum Sø”. The range therefore extends from details of church history to landscapes shaped by geology.

The right accommodation for planning your trip

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home, you can use the focus of your days as a guide. If the Danish Monastery Route is your main priority, the sections mentioned and their different lengths are important points to consider when planning. If, on the other hand, you want to explore Madum Sø and the surrounding nature, you should choose the location of your accommodation to suit this day-trip plan. Accommodation in Astrup can make the town itself and the destinations described in the surrounding area the starting point for planning your trip, without requiring you to limit your holiday to just one activity.

For geographical orientation, a minor road branches off Route 519 slightly north of Astrup in the direction of Hellum. When travelling to the area and choosing your holiday accommodation, check which location suits your personal plans for each day. This allows you to combine culture, hiking, landscapes and water-based experiences in the mix you want.

If you would like to compare other places in the region, you can also find information about Rold, Glenstrup, Ajstrup, Øster Hurup, Hadsund, Helberskov, Mariager and Hobro.

For the overarching travel overview: Mariagerfjord Municipality.