Holiday apartment in Vejen Municipality – culture, the Hærvejen and lakes

Vejen Municipality includes the Kongeå River as well as various natural and cultural sites. The almost 60-kilometre-long river rises east of Vejen and flows westwards to the North Sea or the Wadden Sea. The marked Kongeåstien hiking trail runs along the former border river. It is 55.6 kilometres long and leads from Skudstrup to Gredstedbro.

Nature and landscape

The varied landscape includes different forest, heathland and wetland areas. Skærsø is a 16-hectare protected heathland pond near woodland and heathland. Klelund Dyrehave comprises a 1,400-hectare forest area where the cultural history of a former hunting lodge is reconstructed. Near Jels, Jels Nedersø, Jels Midtsø and Jels Oversø together form a small tunnel valley that was created during the last Ice Age approximately 12,000 years ago.

The Kyst til Kyststien also brings a broader landscape route to the region: the trail crosses Jutland and runs along the three major rivers Vejle Å, Holme Å and Varde Å.

Hiking and cycling

Several marked trails focus on different themes. The Kløverstier in Vejen comprise four routes of 3.3, 5.5, 7 and 16 kilometres. Their themes range from art and urban nature to industrial history and border history. In Vejen Municipality, the Hærvejen runs from Bække via Vejen to Jels.

The Kongeåstien includes bridges, shelters, information boards and canoe launch sites. The estate landscape of Sønderskov can be explored via the Møllestien footpath, which starts at the car park east of the manor house. In the Jels area, a 17-kilometre cycling tour also leads through beech forest and along Jels Sø, with detours to special experiences and historical sites.

Water at Jels Sø

Jels Søbad offers freshwater bathing at Jels Nedersø. The bathing jetty allows swimming, jumping and water games for children. Jels Søbad includes changing rooms and a circular bathing jetty with areas for children, quiet swimming and diving.

Art, museums and history

In Vejen, art can be found both in public spaces and in the museums. The sculpture “Militarism” by Niels Hansen Jacobsen stands in the market square in the centre of Vejen. Vejen Art Museum is a specialist museum for Danish symbolism, also known as Skønvirke, from around 1900. It displays sculptures and ceramic works by Niels Hansen Jacobsen, as well as important works by artists of his time. The museum grounds also feature a Pippi play and adventure landscape inspired by Ingrid Vang Nyman.

The present-day Sønderskov manor house houses Sønderskov Museum, the regional museum of Vejen Municipality. Its exhibitions present Sønderskov manor house, the Swedish Wars and the Fæsted gold find. Another museum visit takes you to the Poul la Cour Museum, where visitors receive a guided tour lasting approximately one and a half hours.

The listed railway station building in Vejen is also part of the local architectural history. It was built in 1917 in the Bedre Byggeskik architectural style according to plans by the architect Heinrich Wenck.

Memorial sites

The Skibelund Krat Monument Park was established in 1865 as a national meeting and festival site after the loss of Southern Jutland and is now surrounded by memorials to Danish figures. The gun emplacement at Dover is a relic from the Second World War and also offers views over the Kongeå valley as well as a small nature trail. Along the Hærvejen lies Klebæk Høje, a prehistoric monument complex with three historical periods represented in one location.

Theatre and regional perspectives

Jels Vikingespil is an annual open-air theatre production that has been based on the commitment of several hundred volunteers since 1977. The VisitVejen app offers another way to explore the region’s cultural history. It provides guided city and nature walks focusing on the cultural history of the region.

Arrival and trail access

Regional and InterCity trains between Esbjerg and Aarhus or Copenhagen stop at Vejen railway station. By public transport, Vejen railway station provides direct access to the Hærvejen. There are also two lockable bicycle sheds there, accessible via the DSB app with a DSB profile.

Other places

Other places to visit include Rødding Municipality, Vejen, Jels, Foldingbro, Hovborg, Lintrup, Bække, Holsted, Glejbjerg and Brørup Parish.

For the broader travel overview: Southern Jutland.