Kragelund-Vrads

Selected experiences on the stage

King Knaps Dyke
King Knaps Dyke dates back to the Iron Age and is an ancient defensive embankment. Today, you will see that the dyke has a length of about 200 meters, a width of up to 6.5 meters, and a height of 1 meter. Originally, the dyke was both higher and longer, and it is believed to have served as a fortification by the nearby Haller River, which marked the boundary between different tribes.

According to tradition, it was here, at King Knaps Dyke, that the Battle of Grathe Heath took place in 1157, where the rivals Sweyn Grathe and Valdemar the Great fought for the throne, and Sweyn Grathe met his fate. The name King Knaps Dyke is said to originate from Sweyn Grathe, who was also known as Sweyn Button.

Today, King Knaps Dyke is a protected area and an exciting piece of history that you can still experience.

Grathe Heath, 8620 Kjellerup

Stenholt Forest
Right by Engesvang, you can experience a protected gem of a forest, Stenholt Forest. The forest is an ancient oak coppice with an interesting history. During coppicing, the trees were cut at the base, and the coveted shoots were used for fencing material and fuel. This form of management kept the forest open and suitable for livestock grazing. In 1988, the forest was protected. The purpose of the protection was to preserve and restore the oak thickets and the open forest floor.

In the southern part of the forest, you will find Klosterlund Museum, where you can explore finds from Jutland's oldest settlements dating back to 8,000 BC. The settlement near the museum has given its name to the Klosterlund culture, one of the cultures of the older Stone Age. In the nearby building, the small hill house, you can learn more about the landscape at that time and enjoy your packed lunch.

Stenholt Forest is not only a historical treasure trove but also a beautiful natural area with a wealth of ancient monuments you can explore: ancient burial mounds, stone settings, traces of a marl railway, and ruins of a peat plant. Throughout the forest, you can follow marked hiking trails and information signs that share the forest's history.

Engesvangvej 109, 8600 Silkeborg

Vrads Sande
Vrads Sande is an enchanting heathland located south of Silkeborg, shaped by centuries of wild sand drift. This natural beauty, covering 146 hectares, was protected in 1968 for its unique charm and historical significance.

Vrads Sande presents itself as a pot-shaped depression with steep slopes that narrate the passage of history down to an elegant heath lake. The area offers small dunes and traces of glacial terraces, covered by lush vegetation. East of the nearby highway, a captivating stretch of heather and juniper unfolds, while wonderful green heath areas reveal themselves to the west.

The heath has both dry and moist areas where juniper and gorse thrive. Here you can also find bell heather, blueberries, and cranberries, which add an extra dimension to the experience of this unique landscape.

To the east of Vrads Sande lies an impressive 300-hectare area around Snabegård, dedicated to nature since 1976. This area, following the Salten Å and Lystrup Å streams, inspires visitors along the Horsens-Silkeborg Nature Trail with its fairy-tale landscape.

Vrads Sande, 8654 Bryrup