Foldingbro between border history and the Kongeå

Foldingbro offers two specific highlights to consider when planning your trip: the border history along the Kongeå and the river valley landscape. There is also a marked hiking trail, a designated canoe route and opportunities for fishing. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Foldingbro, these themes can help you decide what to focus on: historical sites, the river landscape or time on the water.

Border history in the town

From 1864 to 1920, Foldingbro was one of the busiest border crossings between Denmark and Prussia (Germany). Foldingbro’s Genforeningssten (Reunification Stone) was unveiled on 12 May 1937. The hill with the stone offers views over the Kongeåen and the wide, relatively flat Kongeå valley. The town’s history and the view across the river can thus be seen as two different aspects of a visit: its historical location on the border and the surrounding landscape.

A map for a walk through Foldingbro’s border history marks eleven geographically located information points. Each point includes before-and-after pictures and historical texts about the relevant house or place. The map links the stops to specific locations; the pictures and texts draw attention to specific changes and stories, rather than focusing only on the border period in general.

The Kongeå valley and trails

The Kongeåstien is a marked hiking trail along the former border river, the Kongeåen. On the Villebøl–Foldingbro stage, the trail first follows the Kongeå through the low-lying floodplain, then continues along the valley slopes and dry open areas. The stage therefore takes in different landscapes along the river. You can also spot kornet stenbræk (stone bramble) in the dry open areas.

The Kongeå valley along the Villebøl–Foldingbro stage was protected in 1980. This protection preserves, among other things, the Kongeå’s natural, unregulated course. Together with the marked Kongeåstien and the viewpoint on the hill with the Genforeningssten, these features offer different insights into the valley: its protected landscape, its river course and views of the surrounding area.

Canoeing and fishing

The Foldingbro–Nielsby canoe route includes a 4.8-kilometre section. This distance refers to the section between Foldingbro and Nielsby. In Foldingbro, there is a take-out point and toilets on the route. This means that both the route length and a specific place to get out in town are identified for planning a canoe trip.

Foldingbro is considered a good starting point for fishing in the Kongeåen. The conditions at the put-and-take lake at Foldingbro Camping are suitable for spin fishing, fly fishing and coarse fishing. You can also buy fishing permits for the lake without staying at the campsite. As arrangements may change, it is best to check the current permit requirements before your fishing trip.

Inn history and local production

Foldingbro has had an inn since 1758; today it is known as Kongeåkroen. The main building dates from 1910. The two dates tell different parts of the story: the first marks the town’s long inn tradition, while the second is the year the main building was built.

At its own micro-dairy next to the ice house in Foldingbro, Kongeå Is makes ice cream entirely from milk from Kisbæk. This makes local production another specific aspect of the town, alongside its border history and river landscape. Product information may change; if you are particularly interested, check the latest information.

Discover more destinations: Hovborg, Vejen, Holsted, Rødding Municipality, Jels, Brørup Parish, Lintrup, Bække.

For the overarching travel guide: Vejen Municipality.