Gelsted Parish: Nature, Trails and Culture

When planning a stay in Gelsted Parish, you can prioritise nature and culture according to your interests. Landscapes here include valleys, marshes and woodland trails; in Gelsted, there is also the history of the church, Danish furniture design and the market tradition. If you are looking for a hotel for your trip, you can first decide which of these interests you want to shape your stay.

Trails through valleys, woodland and marshes

The Brænde Ådal river valley cuts up to 20 metres into the landscape between Aarup and Håre. There are viewpoints along the route through the valley. Marked walking trails also run through Brænde Ådal in the municipalities of Middelfart and Assens, and cycle route 71 passes through the area. This gives you a choice of different types of route to help plan your outings. Routes and trail conditions may change, so check the current situation before setting out.

One seasonal natural feature is the wet lowland meadows along the river, where the protected military orchid blooms in May and June. The flowering time can vary. If you are interested in this plant, the time of year is an important factor when planning your visit.

Holmeskoven is a forest of around 25 hectares south of Gelsted and forms part of a larger recreational area with public trails. The Holmeskoven i Gelsted walking route follows the old railway track to Gelsted Mose. At Håre Mose, which covers 6.5 hectares, a disused gravel pit with small lakes meets a restored marsh on nutrient-poor soil. The landscapes described here bring together woodland trails, a former railway track and different types of marshland.

A two-kilometre trail runs through Håre Mose. You can extend the walk to five kilometres by including Håre Bjerge. The difference between the two distances therefore depends on whether you include Håre Bjerge in your walk. In Brænde Ådal, there is a shelter with a fire pit at Klakkebjerg for basic overnight stays; Holmeskoven has a campsite with two shelters. Check the current conditions at these facilities before making plans.

Church, design and market tradition

Gelsted Church brings together architectural features and works of art from several centuries. Its oldest section, the nave with its apse, dates from around 1200; the church also has a medieval entrance portal. The pulpit is part of the old three-winged pulpit from Sct. Knuds Kirke and was made in 1591 by woodcarver Jens Asmussen. These details give the church a long architectural and artistic history that can be seen in its individual features.

The altar ensemble adds a more recent work of art to the historic setting: it includes a glass mosaic and a metal composition by Mogens Jørgensen and Gudrun Steenberg, created in 1997. Danish furniture design takes centre stage at another location in Gelsted. The Carl Hansen & Søn Flagship Store Gelsted presents a collection of Danish designer furniture. Displays and visitor arrangements may change, so check the latest information before visiting.

The Gelsted Marked offers another cultural experience. It has been held since 1988 and was the first place in Denmark to introduce the concept of a children's flea market. Dates and programmes may change; check the latest event information before your trip. Along with the church's artworks and the design store, it offers a cultural experience quite different from a walk through woodland and marshes.

Getting there by train

Regional trains run from Gelsted station between Fredericia and Odense. Timetables and service patterns may change, so check the latest connections with DSB before departure. This lets you plan your train journey without assuming a particular frequency or travel time.

Discover more destinations: Ejby, Føns, Husby, Båring, Brenderup, Vejlby Fed, Båring Strand, Bro.

For an overview of the wider area: Middelfart Municipality.