Ulstrup – Hiking, river swimming and castle history

Ulstrup combines outdoor activities with historical landmarks. At Dannebrogspladsen, you’ll find hiking trails and the opportunity to swim in the river. There is also a section of the Gudenåsti about ten kilometres long, the Kulturringen cycling route, the Margueritrute scenic route and Ulstrup Castle. If you’re looking for a hotel in Ulstrup, you can use your interests in exercise, water and culture to help plan your stay.

Hiking and swimming at Dannebrogspladsen

Dannebrogspladsen is a recreational area in Ulstrup with hiking trails. You can also swim in the river there. This brings two different activities together in one place: hiking and river swimming. If you’re planning your stay around a specific interest, you can make the area a focus for hiking, swimming or both.

Routes around Ulstrup

For hiking, a section of the Gudenåsti offers a clearly defined route: it runs from Bjerringbro to Ulstrup and is about 10 km long. This gives you the two endpoints and an approximate distance. When water levels are high, parts of the trail may be wet and temporarily flooded. Water levels and weather affect these conditions, so check the current situation along the route before setting out.

Ulstrup is also on the regional Kulturringen cycling route and the national Margueritrute scenic route. These route connections differ from the Gudenåsti section: here, one cycling route and one scenic route are mentioned, while the Gudenåsti is described as a hiking section with endpoints and an approximate length.

Ulstrup Castle: history and visiting

The history of Ulstrup Castle dates back to the late 14th century. Today’s Ulstrup Castle is a remnant of a large, four-winged Renaissance castle. It was built in the early 17th century by Marshal of the Realm Jørgen Skeel, the son of Christen Skeel. The castle’s history and its surviving structure therefore point to different historical periods: its origins in the late 14th century and the Renaissance building from the early 17th century.

The castle grounds and park at Ulstrup Castle are open in connection with the annual events; dates vary. If visiting these areas is important to you, plan your visit around the dates of the relevant events.

Ulstrupbro Church

Another historical landmark is Ulstrupbro Church, also known as Ulstrup Church. It was built in 1952–1953. Compared with the castle’s long history, this construction date places the church in a much later period: it adds a building from the mid-20th century to the picture of Ulstrup’s history. This allows you to include two buildings from different historical periods in your stay.

Planning activities for your stay

The routes and historical sites have different conditions to consider when planning: for the Gudenåsti, water levels and weather matter, as sections may be wet or flooded. Access to the castle grounds and park, on the other hand, is tied to the annual events, whose dates vary. Plan your hike around the trail conditions and your visit to these castle grounds around the event dates.

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