Slagballe: Railway Line, Village History and Highlands

Slagballe brings together village history, cycling and landscape along the traces of a former railway station. The station and its small settlement were established along the Horsens–Bryrup railway line; today, a recreational and cycling path follows the former route, while protected areas lie by Karl Sø.

Slagballe as a Former Railway Station

Slagballe developed in open countryside around the station on the Horsens–Bryrup railway line. Slagballe Station was built in 1899 during the construction of the railway between Horsens and Bryrup, on the road between Burgårde and Slagballe. The station incorporated postal and telegraph services. The station settlement comprised just over ten buildings, and its settlement structure has not changed significantly. The railway and station are now disused. The closure marks the railway's historical status: active railway operations are not part of the present-day village landscape.

Recreational and Cycling Paths on the Former Route

The former railway line through Slagballe has been converted into a recreational path. As the former Bryrup Railway, it runs through the village from north to south. The former railway line has also been converted into a cycling path that runs across the built-up area and illustrates Slagballe's origins. For cycle tourists, the path connects the course of the former railway with the present-day village landscape; its north–south orientation can serve as a spatial reference when planning a ride through Slagballe.

Village History Around the Forsamlingshus

Slagballe Forsamlingshus preserves another part of the area's history. Its function room was originally the local feed-supply centre; the present-day function room is located in the former building of this feed-supply centre. The building adjoining the function room was formerly the local general store. Of the former facilities, the Forsamlingshus is the only one still used as a meeting house. Slagballe Forsamlingshus is a venue for events with fewer than 100 participants. Visitors interested in culture can see the former village supply services and the present-day meeting-house use in one place at the Forsamlingshus.

Landscape Between Farmland and Hilly Country

Slagballe St. lies in a relatively flat agricultural landscape and in the Brædstrup Højland landscape character area. This area features elevated, hilly terrain. There are particularly wide views of the surrounding landscapes in the eastern and northwestern parts. For travel planning, the distinction between the relatively flat location of Slagballe St. and the hilly landscape areas of Brædstrup Højland provides a specific spatial reference. The directional indications for the wide views refer to the area and not solely to the relatively flat village location of Slagballe St.

At the eastern end of Karl Sø lie areas owned by Grundejerforeningen Slagballe Bakker that are protected under Section 3 of the Danish Nature Protection Act. Nature enthusiasts can take the protected status of these areas into account when observing the landscape around Slagballe.

Places in the Surrounding Region

The surrounding region includes Horsens, Østbirk, Brædstrup, Hovedgård and Assendrup.

Back to the main travel overview: Horsens.