Viborg – Cathedral, Art and Lakes

Viborg brings together striking buildings, art and paths in a setting where nature and city life meet. Viborg Cathedral, the Skovgaard Museum and Viborg Kunsthal offer different cultural highlights. Nørresø and Søndersø add lakes right in the heart of the city. If you are planning a stay, you can choose between architecture and art, a Hærvejen stage and a loop around the lakes.

Art and Architecture

Viborg Cathedral was built as an elongated cruciform church with two western towers and two eastern towers. It also has side aisles, a high choir and a crypt. The four towers are positioned on the west and east sides, while the ground plan combines a longitudinal layout with a cruciform design. It is probably the largest granite church in the world.

The Skovgaard Museum is a state-recognised art museum in Viborg, housed in a historic town hall dating from 1728. From Viborg station, you can reach the museum on foot in about ten minutes via the pedestrian street. Here, an art museum and a dated town hall building come together, while the cathedral adds its own architectural highlight.

Viborg Kunsthal is an exhibition venue for vibrant and dynamic contemporary art. It presents changing exhibitions featuring Danish and international visual artists. Contemporary art thus stands alongside the art museum in the town hall and the cathedral’s architecture as another cultural highlight.

Hærvejen in the City and on the Stage

Hærvejen includes an 18 km stage from Skelhøje to Viborg Cathedral. In the Banebyen district, Hærvejen runs as a recreational route, connecting Banebyen with central Viborg via Hærvejsbroen and Hærvejsstien. The stage with its named endpoints and the connection through a city district represent different scales for route planning.

In Banebyen, Hærvejsstien runs from Gyldenrisvej in the south to Hærvejsbroen in the north. As a shared space, it can be used by cars travelling at low speeds, cyclists and pedestrians. This makes the use of this urban section a distinct aspect of the route: different types of traffic share the path here, while the 18 km figure describes a stage between Skelhøje and the cathedral.

Explore the Viborg Lakes on Foot or by Bike

The Viborg Lakes consist of Nørresø and Søndersø. Both are located in the heart of Viborg, surrounded by lush nature and close to city life. The complete loop around the lakes is 11 km long and can be covered on foot or by bike. It is seven kilometres shorter than the 18 km Hærvejen stage; the route formats also differ: here, the route loops around the lakes, while the stage runs from Skelhøje to the cathedral. This helps you choose a route format that suits your travel plans.

Fishing is permitted from public areas at the Viborg Lakes; general fishing regulations still apply. If you plan to fish during your stay, these rules are part of the picture.

Discover more destinations: Tjele, Bjerringbro, Hjarbæk, Tange, Karup Municipality, Lynderup, Rødding, Løgstrup

For the overview of the wider area: Viborg Municipality.