Your visit to Jutland
If you are spending your time in Denmark, you know that there are many islands, 443 to be exact; the largest of those islands is called Zealand (Sjæland) which you can read about in the previously released article, "Things to do on the island of Zealand".
Jutland contains the mainland regions of Denmark and north parts of Germany, and was anciently known as the Cimbrian Peninsula. Jutland is home to countless cities, beaches and three UNESCO world heritage sites as well as the original Legoland.
Aarhus is the second biggest city in Denmark, and one of the oldest cities in denmark dating back to at least the 8th century. You can reach Aarhus by flight, train or car which takes a few hours from Copenhagen. Here, you will find many museums to explore such as the famous ARos Aarhus art museum with its dazzling rooftop panorama view. There is also the old town (den gamle by) with it's open air museum, where you can literally walk-through time and see all the ways of life from Denmark’s history. While you are in the old town, stop by the Aarhus Botanical gardens which you can enter for free and even have yourself a little picnic. If a picnic is too much preparation, you can also go to the amazing Street Food market which serves all types of cuisine or go on the Food Walk for a lovely, guided tour.
Besides all the amazing museums and eateries you will find, the historical sites and sustainably focused architecture is very impressive, Aarhus is absolutely a Design hotspot. An impressive historical site in Aarhus that you might find interesting in seeing, is the Marselisborg Palace, which is used by the royal family during summer and Christmas. When the royals are not in residence, you can explore the palace grounds and see the Queen’s rose garden. To get the best shopping finds, I recommend taking a walk through the shopping streets and the Latin Quarter which I consider a must see. Aarhus Harbour hosts many iconic buildings such as the Dokk 1 Cultural Center and the Iceberg building, that are considered some of the cities' architectural gems. While here you can also swim in the harbour baths or take a green kayak out for free as long as you bring trash back.
Aalborg can be described similarly to other small cities in Denmark in terms of the look and feel. However, Aalborg is an ancient city where viking ships would pass by as they sailed on the Limfjord. Now adays it has become a cultural hotspot. Some places to visit while in this cute city would be the Architectural Utzon Center which explores the work of famous architect and designer, Jørn Utzon, who also designed the Sydney Opera House. Don’t forget lunch, which you can find at the Street Food market in an old furniture factory known as “The Lighthouse”. Aalborg is a very old city, so no trip would be complete without seeing the old part of town where you find cobbled streets, cosy cafes, and crooked houses from the 1600’s. Even though you see a lot of the old, cultural spots here, you will not miss the modern parts of Aalborg such as the amazing views and street art they have on display. Along with that, you will also be able to explore Aalborg’s Cultural Centre called Nordkraft which used to be a power station from 1947 and now it houses theatres, cinemas, food spots, exhibitions, and even a climbing wall. Aalborg is definitely a favourite of the Danish cities and I recommend a visit.
Heritage sites that can be explored while in Jutland:
The Wadden Sea National Park where you can go Oyster hunting and is home to the largest population of common seals in Denmark. The Wadden sea stretches over three countries (Denmark, Germany and Netherlands) and across 500km, it is one of the world’s top ten tidal flats and was granted status as a UNESCO world heritage site in 2009.
The Viking rune stones at Jelling, which are more than a thousand years old and one of Europe’s most famous Viking monuments. In the tenth century, approximately year 965, after conquering Norway and Denmark and converting to Christianity, King Harold Bluetooth had Denmark’s name engraved on a rune stone. The rune was made in memory of his father and mother and is considered the official baptism certificate for Denmark. The monuments in Jelling are considered the finest of the Viking age monuments and holds UNESCO World Heritage patronage.
The Town of Christiansfeld is still existing from its original 1773 layout, this famous Moravian city is famed for honey cakes, so make sure to try on your next visit. The city was granted World heritage status to preserve the unique religious community and cultural traditions established there. Many locals living here derive from the city’s first ancestors that came from Hernhut, Germany.
THY national Park is the oldest national park in Denmark. Rugged coastal landscape shaped by sand swept forests, dramatic dunes and sandy beaches, explore 200km² of trails by foot, bike, or horseback. The national park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including the red deer who roam the park freely or by the seaside where you can find common seals on the beach. Inside the park, you will find a historic fishing village called Stenbjerg where you can meet local fisherman that can show you to one of the 200 lakes to go fishing or you can go to the local inn to try the catch of the day. Inside the National Park you can also join a delicacy hunt through the dune’s plantations or forests where you can find various mushrooms or berries. If you go towards the Klitmøller inside the national park, commonly known as “Cold Hawaii”, you find perfect conditions for extreme water sports such as surfing, or kite surfing or even paddle boarding on some days. Lastly, you can stay the night in camps and sleep under the stars. Several shelters and camp areas have been set up to accommodate visitors who are looking for an unforgettable stargazing experience.
The Black Sun in Tønder is an interesting occurrence that happens twice a year. At the Wadden Sea National Park, in either spring or autumn, witness the migrating of starlings at dusk. They flock together to roost, an estimated 12 million migratory birds pass through this route to breed and appears to block out the entire sky with the colour of their wings.
“The man meets the sea” by Svend Wiig Hansen in Esbjerg is an art installation of Svend Wiig Hansen's giant 9-metre-high sculptures on the West Coast. The giants are made of white concrete, and explores the meeting between pure, unspoilt mankind and nature. The sculptures are meant to portray harmony and charisma and can be seen from 10 km away and is considered a landmark to Esbjerg.
Legoland, the Billund resort originally built in 1968 and located right next to the Lego factory. Here you will not only find a cool amusement park for the whole family, but you will also find the Mini Chef restaurant where you can look forward to French-fries in the shape of Legos. In addition to this there is a hotel and conference centre for overnight visitors and business guests, as well as a Lego House made only of legos, which is fun for the whole family. At the Lego house you can watch your creations come to life or race your family in your very own Lego Vehicle, and if you get hungry, you can also visit the amazing restaurant called “Brickaccino” for a light lunch. A thoroughly enjoyable experience for the family.
