Lejre between the Viking Age and the landscape

Lejre is shaped by the Viking Age, archaeological sites, historic farms and a protected landscape. Its themes range from museum exhibitions and houses from earlier periods to hiking trails and wildlife watching. When planning your trip, this can help you decide whether to focus on cultural history, nature or both.

The Viking Age and rural heritage

The Lejre Museum brings to life the great significance of the Lejre area in Viking Age Denmark through modern, interactive and engaging exhibitions. Sagnlandet Lejre presents houses and ways of life from the Stone Age, Iron Age and Viking Age. Together, the museum and Sagnlandet offer different ways to explore these historical themes: exhibitions at the museum, and houses and ways of life from several eras at Sagnlandet.

Archaeological attractions include the ship setting at Gl. Lejre, one of the largest ship settings in Scandinavia. Mysselhøj is one of the area's best-preserved burial mounds. In the protected landscape around Gl. Lejre, up to 50 different plant species grow per square metre on the burial mounds. This landscape brings together archaeological evidence and exceptional plant diversity.

The farms also tell the story of the area's rural culture. Gammel Kongsgård is the preserved dwelling of an old farm built in 1740. Gl. Kongsgaard was once a tenant farm under Ledreborg Slot and is now a monument to the rural culture of the Lejre area. The two places convey different aspects of farm history: Gammel Kongsgård centres on the preserved dwelling, while Gl. Kongsgaard reflects its former function and its significance today as a monument.

Hiking trails and landscape

The 50-kilometre-long Skjoldungestien trail passes through Gl. Lejre. Between Gl. Lejre and Gevninge, the trail follows the Lejre Å. Another hiking trail, Kongehal-vejen, is 1.8 kilometres long and leads from the Lejre Museum to Sagnlandet Lejre. There are therefore two routes of different lengths to choose from: Skjoldungestien is a longer route, while Kongehal-vejen connects two named destinations.

The protected area around Gl. Lejre offers paths through fields, meadows and dry grasslands. The open landscape provides a habitat for pheasants, roe deer and hares, as well as birds of prey, including the common buzzard, marsh harrier, red kite and peregrine falcon. Herthadalen adds to this landscape as a narrow meltwater ravine in the forest near Sagnlandet Lejre. The site also has a political and popular history: from the 1850s to the 1960s, Herthadalen was the setting for large gatherings.

Visits and practical planning

At Sagnlandet Lejre, Den Vilde Vej is a 330-metre-long walkway that rises up to 8 metres above the animal enclosures. From above, visitors can see wild boar, goats and aurochs. An admission ticket to Sagnlandet Lejre is required to visit the walkway. You also need admission to Sagnlandet Lejre to visit Kongehal. Check the admission requirements before your trip.

Guided tours of Ledreborg Slot can be booked during the summer season. They include visits to the church, the beautiful halls, the old kitchen and the dungeon. If you plan to include this visit, note that the tours are only available seasonally.

This information can help you decide whether Lejre suits a trip focused primarily on cultural history, hiking or a combination of both.

Discover more destinations: Gershøj, Kirke Hvalsø, Kyndeløse, Kirke Såby, Kirke Hyllinge, Kisserup, Ordrup

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