Mølby: Trails, River Landscape and Cultural Heritage

In Mølby, the river landscape, trails and cultural history can be found in different places: the Oksen Trail starts in the village, Slotsengen includes remains of at least three settlements between Mølby and Neder Lert, and Tovskov Voldsted is the remains of an old fortification between Mølby and Lerte. The Oksen Trail starts in the village, Slotsengen lies between Mølby and Neder Lert, and Tovskov Voldsted is located between Mølby and Lerte.

River Landscape and Nature

Mølby lies partly within an area of special geological interest and in landscapes worthy of preservation. The Nørreå is a specific river feature: the stretch from Mølby to Øster Lindet is about 10 kilometres long. An account published by DTU Aqua in November 2019 rated conditions for salmon in this stretch as particularly good; it described a brisk current and a gravel and stone bed. Biological conditions may change over time. The Ørsted Å also joins the Nørreå at Mølby. In the past, the waters of both rivers were dammed at Tovskov Mølledam. Thus, the rivers’ present-day confluence and the former damming of the water are two different aspects of the landscape from different periods.

Trails along the Nørreå

The Oksen Trail provides a direct connection between Mølby and the Nørreå. It starts at Mølledamspladsen in the village and heads towards the winding Nørreå. Beyond the houses in Mølby, the trail offers a beautiful view of Tovskov Slotsbanke and the lake around it. The Oksen Trail also connects all the villages and settlements in the Oksenvad rural district with the Hærvejen. An account from the municipality in 2021 described a system of footpaths that looped around the Nørreå and continued through the farmland north of Sommersted. The trails differ in their routes and connections: the Oksen Trail connects the settlements in the Oksenvad rural district with the Hærvejen; the footpath system looped around the Nørreå and crossed the farmland north of Sommersted.

Cultural Traces and Archaeological Sites

Northeast of Mølby, an area has been designated as a cultural heritage site. The cultural traces preserved there date from the Early Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Slotsengen lies in Nørre Ådalen between Mølby and Neder Lert and includes remains of at least three different settlements. Two of the remains of at least three settlements date to the Hamburg culture, around 11,000 BC.

Tovskov Voldsted is the remains of an old fortification between Mølby and Lerte. The rounded mound measures about 15 × 20 metres, is around four metres high and has steep sides. The types of remains also differ: Slotsengen represents several settlements, while Tovskov Voldsted is a fortification mound.

Discover more destinations: Bevtoft, Flovt, Kelstrup, Årøsund, Knud, Stenderup, Råde, Sønder Vilstrup

For the main travel overview: Haderslev Municipality.