Melby

Melby can be explored through several very different traces: a small embankment points to the historic Hedvigslyst sugar beet railway, archaeological findings range from the Neolithic period to the Viking Age, and fishing in shallow water is possible at Melby Sønderstrand. This brings together questions of cultural history and a specific activity by the shore. This contrast can be helpful when planning your trip: consider whether you mainly want to put historical traces into context or set aside time for so-called “bathtub fishing.”

The sugar beet railway: a small remnant, a longer route

South of Melby, remains of the Hedvigslyst sugar beet railway can still be seen: a small, grassy embankment covered with vegetation. The sugar beet railway ran to Gørlev and on to Falkensten and Mullerup. The embankment makes the surviving remnant visible as a small landscape feature; the place names also show the longer historical route. This makes it possible to distinguish between two scales: a small embankment in the landscape and a route with several named destinations. This contrast is particularly interesting for exploring cultural history, as it connects a visible remnant with the course of the former railway.

Archaeological traces from different periods

A section of a Neolithic flint axe production site was excavated in 2008 south of the village of Melby, near Kalundborg. The term “production site” puts manufacturing at the forefront: this was a place where flint axes were made, not merely a reference to finished tools. 2008 is the year of the excavation; the site itself is classified as Neolithic. This clearly distinguishes the date of the excavation from the period to which the find site is assigned.

A project to register detector finds from Melby yielded 1,100 archaeologically interesting finds. This number gives the project’s results a tangible scale. Together with the excavated section, it illustrates two different approaches to the past: one concerns part of a production site, the other the results of a registration project. This difference makes Melby’s archaeological themes more varied than a single find site or a single period.

The Viking Age adds another dimension to this picture. Archaeological findings suggest that Melby was inhabited by Vikings from the highest social classes. This interpretation encompasses links to the great hall complex near Tissø and contacts abroad. It thus combines a statement about settlement at the time with connections extending beyond the local area. For those interested in history, several questions can therefore be considered side by side: Where was production carried out, what finds were registered, and what social and regional connections do the archaeological findings suggest?

Fishing at Melby Sønderstrand

So-called “bathtub fishing” in shallow water is possible on both sides of the shore at Melby Sønderstrand. This is a different way to experience Melby from its archaeological themes: here, a specific fishing opportunity by the water takes centre stage. Seasonal conditions may vary; if fishing is important to your stay, check the conditions for your planned travel dates. When planning, you can then decide whether you want to discover Melby mainly through its historical traces or whether fishing by the shore is the deciding factor.

Choose Melby as your destination

When looking for a holiday apartment in Melby, this suggests a simple question: which side of the area should shape your stay? The historic railway route and the archaeological findings are reasons to take an interest in cultural history when choosing; “bathtub fishing” offers a different focus at Sønderstrand.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Reersø, Bildsø, Sejerø, Høng, Vollerup, Saltbæk, Eskebjerg, Ornum.

Return to the main travel overview: Kalundborg.