Øster Nykirke
Øster Nykirke or Saint Peder’s Church is situated on the top of the ridge and is Denmark’s highest-lying church.
Experiences along Hærvejen hiking route
Photo: Andreas Houmann
On Hærvejen - The Ancient Road - you will find lots of history, cultural history and attractions on the way. Read along and get an overview of them.
From the north, you’ll encounter Øster Nykirke, Denmark’s highest-altitude church. Close to the church lies Sct. Peder’s Holy Spring, whose water was once believed to have healing powers.
If you need an exotic break from your hike, you can visit Givskud Zoo, where you can go on a safari.
In Jelling, you are in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here lies one of the finest monuments from the Viking Age: Denmark’s two largest burial mounds and two rune stones bearing the oldest inscription mentioning the country of Denmark. This is where Gorm the Old was laid to rest, and where Harald Bluetooth introduced Christianity to Denmark. At the experience center Kongernes Jelling, the life of the Vikings and the fascinating story of these monuments unfold in interactive exhibitions.
In the Vejle river valley is the always beautiful Haraldskær Manor and the visitor center at Haraldskær Avlsgård. Here you can learn more about the history of the river valley, biodiversity, wildlife and much more.
In Vingsted, you come right past Vingsted Iron Age, where you get the Iron Age right under your skin.
Shortly afterwards you come to Ravningbroen bridge, which is a reconstruction of a bridge that Harald Blåtand had constructed.
In Tørskind Grusgrav, art and landscape merge in the impressive landscape sculpture created by Robert Jacobsen and Jean Clareboudt.
Finally, make a stop at Bindeballe Købmandsgård, where you can enjoy a good cup of coffee and a delicious piece of cake and experience what a merchant's shop looked like from 1897. Just on the other side of the road you will find Bindeballe Station. The station building dates from 1897, and is now furnished with an exhibition where the ticket office and waiting room have been reconstructed with many original effects. There are also two old train cars on the track.
One of Europe's finest Bronze Age finds was made in Egtved. Here, a young Bronze Age girl was found laid to rest in a burial mound. The place is now known as The Grave of the Egtved Girl. At the end of 2025, the new experience center, Egtvedpigens Verden, will open right where she was laid to rest one summer day 3,500 years ago.
