Discover Alken: Hiking, Mossø and local history

Alken lies in the hilly landscape north of Mossø. There are several different options to consider when planning your trip: the Aarhus–Silkeborg hiking route, the Kulturringen cycling route, and the landscape and local history around Alken Enge and Alken Mejeri. You can first decide whether route planning or a combination of nature and history should be the focus of your stay.

The history of the dairy

An important part of the area’s industrial history began in 1893, when Alken Mejeri was inaugurated with 137 suppliers. Together, these suppliers had 930 cows. The two figures describe both the number of suppliers and their combined livestock, giving the dairy’s history a tangible scale. For visitors who want to discover Alken as more than just a landscape, the dairy offers a clear connection to local history.

In 1995, the building was purchased by the Alken Mejeri association, run by villagers. The aim of the purchase was to establish a meeting place and gathering space in Alken. This highlights two distinct stages in the dairy’s history: its inauguration as a dairy in 1893 and the later purchase of the building by the village association, with the intention of putting it to communal use. Those exploring the area’s history can thus distinguish between the dairy’s former operations and the association’s later plans.

Alken Enge on Mossø

Alken Enge is an archaeological wetland site at the mouth of the Illerup Å, where it flows into Mossø. Its location where river meets lake is part of the character of the site; another feature is the archaeological interpretation of the human bones. Their sacrifice is associated with Iron Age sacrificial ceremonies held at intervals of 50, 100 or 200 years. These intervals vary considerably, making the timescale of this interpretation easier to grasp.

At Vædebro, the Alken Enge area has a car park, access to Mossø and a picnic shelter. The picnic shelter offers a beautiful view over Mossø. The lake thus connects the description of Alken Enge’s location with the view from the picnic shelter. When planning your visit, bear in mind that Alken Enge has no public constructed paths.

Exploring on foot and by bike

You can start or finish the Aarhus–Silkeborg hiking route at Alken station. There are several options for primitive overnight stays along the route. This means you can combine using the station as your starting or finishing point with planning an overnight stay along the way. Check in advance which option suits your plans, as individual facilities may change.

The Kulturringen cycling route starts and ends at Alken station. This differs from the route information for the Aarhus–Silkeborg hike, where the station can be either the start or the finish. If you are weighing up both options, the station’s role is a specific point of reference that can be compared directly.

Discover more destinations: Hørning, Skovby, Låsby, Emborg, Hårby, Skanderborg.

Return to the main travel overview: Skanderborg.