Discover Vrå

Vrå lies between Hjørring and Aalborg. Art, exhibition history and church architecture offer different ways to explore the area during your stay: Kunstbygningen i Vrå houses Denmark’s largest collection of works by the artist Svend Engelund, alongside changing special exhibitions. Other highlights include the annual exhibition of the Vrå-udstillingen artists’ association, guided tours at Vrå Højskole and churches with different historical features. Regional trains stop at Vrå station.

Art and exhibition history

Kunstbygningen i Vrå houses the Svend Engelund collection and also presents changing special exhibitions of contemporary and modern art. Participants include established and emerging artists from Denmark and abroad. The same venue thus showcases both Engelund’s work and a changing range of artistic perspectives. If you are interested in different movements in modern and contemporary art, you can include both in your travel plans.

The Vrå-udstillingen artists’ association presents its annual exhibition at Kunstbygningen. Its members work across all fields of visual art. Leading architecture firms ensure that the annual exhibition’s visual art is complemented by contemporary architecture. The exhibition programme thus brings together different areas of art without treating architecture as merely a backdrop.

History and guided tours

The history of Vrå-udstillingen dates back to 1942. At the time, Svend Engelund exhibited his paintings during the folk high school’s autumn meeting, at the suggestion of its head, Arne Brandt Pedersen. The exhibition’s origins are therefore linked to a specific event and a particular person: Engelund’s paintings were shown at the autumn meeting before the artists’ association’s history began to take shape.

Vrå Højskole offers guided tours for individuals, families and friends. You can visit the workshops, premises and rooms. There is also an opportunity to speak with teachers and students. A tour therefore offers more than a look around the rooms; it can also provide an opportunity for a personal exchange.

Churches from different periods

Several historical periods can be distinguished at Vrå Kirke: the tower, porch and altarpiece date from the 15th century, while the wall paintings date from the early 16th century. The building’s features and paintings thus point to different eras. Vrå Valgmenighedskirke offers a different architectural perspective. It was built in 1900 and extended in 1918, and is a typical example of the architecture of independent congregational churches in the early 20th century. At the same time, it is larger than many of these often simple churches. For a comparison of architectural history, the older features of Vrå Kirke can thus be contrasted with a church from the early 20th century.

Getting there and practical information

Regional trains stop at Vrå station. Check the timetables for your travel date before planning your journey. Vrå Bryghus & Bryggeri is located in Vrå’s old station building.

Two specific timeframes are especially useful for planning: the Vrå-udstillingen exhibition takes place every year in August, and the Vrå og Omegns Lokalhistoriske Arkiv is open on Tuesdays from 14:00 to 17:00 or by appointment. If you would like to include both in your stay, check the specific exhibition dates and plan your archive visit around its opening hours or make an appointment.

Discover more destinations: Bindslev, Vrensted, Hirtshals, Uggerby, Hjørring, Grønnerup, Nørre Rubjerg, Tversted.

View the wider travel overview: Hjørring Municipality.