Gribskov Municipality between forest, lake and culture

In Gribskov Municipality, the eastern boundary of Gribskov runs along the western shore of Lake Esrum. The lake is designated as an EU habitat area, while Gribskov has six signposted hiking trails, including short and long routes.

Nature

A distinctive type of landscape is Store Gribsø, a rare humic lake type in Denmark. Its water is brown due to humic substances from runoff from bogs. More than 30 wetlands have so far been restored in Gribskov, including several bogs, ponds and artificial lakes associated with the Pøle Å. Along the Gribskov–Esrum hiking route there are fire pits, an overnight camping site and a toilet.

Trails and routes

Regional cycling route 32 consists of Tisvildestien and Pøleåstien and runs for a total of 28 km from Hillerød through the western part of Gribskov to Tisvildeleje. Gillelejestien, also designated as Route 33, is a signposted 27 km cycling route from Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød to Gilleleje Station.

Gribskov also has 40 km of signposted bridleways. Four fenced areas serve as resting places for horses. The Parforce riding route is approximately 16 km long and runs along old historical hunting and riding trails through the southern part of the forest. Tisvildevejen measures 77 km and largely follows a medieval pilgrimage route from Esrum Abbey to the Sankt-Helene Spring in Tisvilde.

A path of around 13 km leads around Lake Søborg and can be used by pedestrians, cyclists and riders. The Parforce Cycling Route 105 begins at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød and leads along historical hunting trails deep into Gribskov. For planning purposes, the different route lengths and modes of transport can be compared.

Culture and history

Esrum Abbey & Møllegård is a vibrant cultural venue that recalls the medieval history of the abbey as a place of faith, doubt, knowledge and influence, as well as its close connection with nature. The basement of Esrum Abbey tells of the many life stories that have left their mark on the history and architecture of the abbey; the building encompasses 900 years of Danish history.

The Abbey Garden at Esrum Abbey contains more than 150 plant species from medieval medicinal herb, spice plant and vegetable gardens. The garden is open around the clock and can be visited at any time. Esrum Abbey also offers the bookable guided tour “Smag på Klosterhaven”.

Munkeruphus is an exhibition venue for contemporary art in a listed building by the sea. The adjacent Munkerup Park has an art and nature laboratory serving as an experience and learning space for children and young people.

The Gilleleje Museum presents the history of the occupation as well as holiday and fishing life in four buildings, each with its own exhibitions. It also presents the escape of Danish Jewish people to Sweden in 1943 through eyewitness accounts and historical sources.

Nakkehoved Lighthouse consists of two lighthouses: the taller Vestre Fyr and the smaller Østre Fyr. A lighthouse museum is located in the former lighthouse keeper’s house at Vestre Fyr. Nakkehoved Lighthouse can be reached via a walk of approximately 1.5 km from Gilleleje Harbour along Fyrstien and the coast.

The Parforce Hunting Landscape in North Zealand comprises 120 km of hunting trails and approximately 4,500 hectares of land and was designated by UNESCO in 2015 as cultural heritage worthy of protection. Søborg Castle was built in the 12th century by Archbishop Eskild as a fortified complex with a curtain wall and moat, and in the Middle Ages it was one of Denmark’s largest and most heavily fortified castles.

At the Rudolph Tegner Museum & Statue Park, 14 statues can be seen in the heather-covered hills outside the museum. A well-preserved passage grave complex from the Neolithic period is approximately 5,000 years old.

More destinations

The same higher-level destination area also includes Høje-Taastrup Municipality, Copenhagen, Furesø Municipality, Fredensborg, Lyngby-Taarbæk Municipality, Elsinore, Frederikssund and Gentofte.

Getting there

The Gribskov and Hornbæk railways run through Gribskov. One connection runs between Hillerød and Helsingør via Gilleleje, while the other runs between Hillerød and Tisvildeleje; bicycles are carried free of charge. Five bus routes run through Gribskov.

To the higher-level travel overview: Hovedstaden.