Hundested:A hidden
treasure worth visiting.
Photos from Hundested, Torup, Kikhavn, Lynæs and Sølager.
The defunct train station at Torup has been restored as Bogby (Book Town). Although most of the used books offered are in Danish, you can still find a selection of books written in English, with the outside chance of discovering a sleeper.
The Himmelstorm Music Festival is an annual event held (usually) at the end of July. The eclectic programme focuses on artists who integrate storytelling into their music.
Just outside Torup is Dyssekilde an eco-community founded in 1982 and based upon ideals of sustainability, vegetarianism and caring for the environment. The houses were mainly built of recycled materials and residents adhere to ecologically-sound practices such as the use of renewable energy sources and willow groves for cleaning waste water. Many of the houses were designed by their residents in what is a fascinating presentation of environmentally-sound DIY architecture. Guided tours are given on selected Saturdays in the summer.
Isefjord merges with Roskilde Fjord by Sølager, an area dotted with traditional thatched-roof houses and summer cottages. A walking path along the cliffs offers spectacular views of the fjords. If you like, you can take the little car ferry across the fjord to Kulhuse on the tongue of land separating the two fjords.
Nødebohuse
Like the villages and hamlets mentioned above, Nødebohuse was once a spot where – after a catch - fishermen would drag their small boats up onto the beaches – but what beaches they are!
Fine sandy beaches abound along the shores of Isefjord and Kattegat. You will find two smaller parking areas near the beach at Nødebohuse, and by the street Gråstenvej there is a larger area for parking, as this beach is popular and has a lifeguard service.
From Sølager and up the coast to Hundested on Isefjord, and where the Kattegat coast begins by Kikhavn and Nødebohuse, you will find scores of places to swim. And in the more secluded spots, don’t be surprised if some swimmers have “forgotten” their bathing suits.
A lovely walk of just a couple of kilometres along an untouched shoreline brings you to Lynæs. Thatched rooves blend in with modern housing in what was once a tiny fishing village. The quaint little harbour has retained its original atmosphere as a port for a handful of fishing vessels. The sea air still has a maritime character with its mix of tar, rope and salt. Nowadays it is primarily a marina for pleasure craft and has ample berths for visiting boats. The area is home to several excellent eateries to cater various pocketbooks and tastes.
Lynæs has become a paradise for wind and kite surfing. The prevailing westerlies sweeping in from the Kattagat range from a gentle breeze to winds that can provide thrills for the most experienced of surfers.
Lynæs Church.
Lynæs Church – known to locals as “The Cathedral” because it can accommodate 350 people – reflects the maritime spirit of the area and there is a memorial wall bearing the names of fisherman and seafarers who lost their lives at sea through the years.
Valdemar Poulsen hill.
On a hill behind Lynæs Church, Valdemar Poulsen carried out experiments resulting in truly groundbreaking technologies. In 1898 he invented the instrument – the magnetic wire recorder - that enabled magnetic sound recording, which would eventually bring music to the masses. Around five years later, Poulsen invented the continuous wave radio transmitter used for radio broadcasting for nearly two decades.
Lynæs Fort.
Lynæs Fort, at the northern edge of town, was built during the First World War to defend the fjords against a possible sea invasion. The fort is now privately owned and can only be viewed from the outside, but stands as a reminder of how the area has been a key strategic point of defence since Viking times.
Click on photos to enlarge the image and text.
Click on photos to enlarge the image and text.
Click on photos to enlarge the image and text.
Click on photos to enlarge the image and text.
Hundested.
Hundested is the gateway to the Kattegat, situated near the junction of Ise and Roskilde fjords by the tip of Halsnæs peninsula. Around one hour’s drive from Copenhagen, the maritime town offers a myriad of experiences for travellers and families looking for something off the beaten track.
The varied landscape of the area and surrounding seas present lots of activities for nature lovers. You will find clean child-friendly beaches, hiking and bike paths amid cliffs, forests and meadows, and with water all around, ample possibilities for boating, fishing or surfing.
Concerted efforts to revivify the town and environs have also provided many cultural and historical attractions for the visitor. Overnight accommodations of every sort are available, and the town has a fine mix of restaurants, with seasonal seafood being a local specialty.
Centre for arts and crafts in a working harbour with an exciting history.
Hundested literally means “dog place”, as hund is Danish for dog, but also refers to a seal. The town’s name dates back to the late 17th century when royalty and their friends hunted seal near “seal dog reef” just north of the town.
Through the years, the town developed around the harbour and eventually grew into the most important fishing port on Zealand. Other enterprises that supplemented fishing spurred growth in the area and part of the harbour remains a commercial port.
Nowadays fishing and smaller commercial vessels share the harbour and marina with private boats in what has become the centre of attraction in Hundested. The most exciting development of the past few years has been how the quays beside the marina have been transformed into an attraction for all the family. Craftsmen and artists offer an array of unique hand-crafted items, eateries abound and there is a themed miniature golf course that’s fun for everyone.
If you want to find antiques, curios, collectibles and maybe even treasures, visit the former fishing warehouses that have been converted into shops.
In front of the harbour area you’ll find holiday cabins that can be hired for various lengths of time. For the thrifty adventurous traveller, the harbour has huts shaped like giant barrels – with solar-powered electricity - that accommodate couples or smaller families.
The main shopping street is just a minute away and offers a full spectrum of specialty and everyday shops as well as hotel or inn accommodations and restaurants.
A fascinating spot to visit is the House of Knud Rasmussen, the polar explorer, at the north edge of Hundested. Now a museum with lots of activities for young and old, Rasmussen spent time there between his frosty expeditions to get away from the hustle and bustle of civilization.
With water on three sides, the light in Hundested is unique and just one of the fetching features of a genuine Danish seaside town.
Click on photos to elarge the image and text.
Kikhavn.
Walking through Kikhavn is virtually a step back in time. The houses in this former fishing village have either been well-preserved or meticulously refurbished and are now mainly used as summer residences.
On the last Saturday in July, the entire village is transformed into a gigantic flea market with a vast selection of household items, clothing, antiques and much more.
Click on photos to enlarge the image and text.
Fishing hamlets and country villages adjacent to Hundested
Hundested makes an excellent starting point for some great tours in nature and to local communities.
You might try “village hopping” along the bike/foot path that leads you along the coast, over fields, and through the Ullerup and Grønnesse forests, stopping at the villages named below. The entire loop is around 20-kilometres long on gently contoured terrain, but there are a number of shorter alternatives. Bicycles can be hired in Hundested.
The Fjord Path (Fjordstien) is a 275-kilometre-long bike/foot path around Roskilde and Ise fjords with a couple of shorter ferry crossings along the way.
Another exciting route is the four-ferry tour across fjords to tongues of land and islands in the region. All the ferries accommodate cars. The whole route is around 50 kilometres, although shorter alternatives are possible.
A number of excellent beaches – where you will not find throngs of people – speckle the routes near all the shores.
Parking places are available at numerous points near all the routes.
English translation and edit by Charles Ferro, Ink Well ApS.
For queries about English texts: Tel: +45 2028 1050
Various details of interest.
Welcome to visithundested.dk where you will find short descriptions - text, photos or links – of attractions and events in Hundested and the immediate surroundings.
Hundested welcomes you to a pleasant visit.
Maps and brochures can be found at Tourist Information, Havnegade 20, and at Halsnæs Bryghus as well as at a number of other businesses in the city.
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Torup
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Dyssekilde Økosamfund (Ecovillage)
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Kikhavn
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Kikhavn Flea Market
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Lynæs
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Church, Fort, Harbor, Vald. Poulsens High
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Sølager
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Kulhuse, Ferry, Sølager Camping
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Nødebohuse
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Nødebohuse beaches
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