Gelsted Parish: Nature Trails, Culture and Danish Design

Gelsted Parish is home to Brænde Ådal, Håre Mose, Gelsted Mose and the Holmeskoven forest, as well as Gelsted Church, Gelsted Market and Danish furniture design.

Trails through valley, marsh and forest

The Holmeskoven i Gelsted hiking route follows the old railway track to Gelsted Mose. There are viewpoints along the route through Brænde Ådal. When planning the route, the old railway-track section, the viewpoints and the valley landscape between Aarup and Håre can be considered different points of reference. The river valley of Brænde Ådal cuts up to 20 metres into the landscape between Aarup and Håre. Brænde Ådal also has marked hiking trails in the municipalities of Middelfart and Assens. Cycle Route 71 passes through the Brænde Ådal area.

The protected early purple orchid blooms in May and June on the wet lowland meadows along the river in Brænde Ådal. At Klakkebjerg, there is a shelter with a fire pit for basic overnight stays. May and June provide a clearly defined period for observing the protected early purple orchid.

Håre Mose and Holmeskoven

Håre Mose covers 6.5 hectares. A two-kilometre path runs through the area. The hike through Håre Mose can be extended to five kilometres by including Håre Bjerge. The two kilometres through Håre Mose are the shorter option; with Håre Bjerge, it becomes a five-kilometre hike. Håre Mose combines a disused gravel pit with small lakes and a restored marsh on nutrient-poor soil.

Holmeskoven is a forest of approximately 25 hectares south of Gelsted and part of a larger recreational area with public paths. Holmeskoven also has a campsite with two shelters.

Church, market and Danish design

Gelsted Church has a medieval entrance portal. The oldest part of the church, the nave with apse, dates from around 1200. The pulpit also points to an older ecclesiastical history: it is part of the old three-winged pulpit from Sct. Knuds Church and was created in 1591 by woodcarver Jens Asmussen. The altar ensemble includes a glass mosaic and a metal composition by Mogens Jørgensen and Gudrun Steenberg from 1997.

Gelsted Market has been held since 1988. It was the first place in Denmark where the concept of a “children’s flea market” was introduced. Another cultural highlight is the Carl Hansen & Søn Flagship Store Gelsted, which presents a collection of Danish designer furniture. Carl Hansen & Søn has been producing Danish design since 1908.

Getting there

Regional trains between Fredericia and Odense depart from Gelsted Station.

More destinations for regional orientation: Viby, Båring, Vejlby Fed, Båring Strand, Middelfart, Bro, Røjle and Brenderup.

For the main travel overview: Middelfart Municipality.