Slagelse between Ring Fortresses, Monastery Ruins and Hiking Trails

Antvorskov was founded around 1170 on the initiative of Valdemar the Great as the Nordic headquarters of the Order of St John. Denmark’s first Lutheran sermon was held there in 1525. At the Antvorskov monastery ruins, there are films about the monastery.

Culture and History

At Slagelse Museum, you can see the street of artisans from the first half of the 19th century. There, you can follow in the footsteps of the young H. C. Andersen and see a Latin school like the one he attended during his stay in Slagelse. Trelleborg is one of the five Danish ring fortresses added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023. The museum exhibition at Trelleborg provides insights into Viking life. The Trelleborg Museum offers activities for families, private groups, associations, companies and tour operators.

Play Culture

At Gerlev Play Park, children and adults can experience several thousand years of play culture, discover more than 100 traditional games and activities, and actively take part in the games. Since its opening in 1999, Gerlev Play Park has served as an educational centre and living play laboratory. There, visitors can experiment with play culture together with the play instructors.

Trails and Landscape

Fodsporet is a green corridor through the landscape in southwestern Zealand for nature lovers, cyclists and people of all ages who enjoy being active; it runs along a former railway line, connects Slagelse in the north with Næstved in the south and Skælskør in the west, and between Slagelse and Skælskør it is a 49-kilometre-long paved nature trail through the landscape of western Zealand. In Slagelse, Fodsporet has a health trail and a nature playground.

The Kløverstier Slagelse comprise four colour-marked hiking trails that begin at Fisketorvet in Slagelse and are between 2.7 and 11.4 kilometres long; the square is only a few minutes’ walk from Slagelse railway station and provides access to public transport.

Coast

Kongsmark Strand beach is located on Musholm Bay, or the Great Belt. There is a large car park opposite the beach access. Behind this car park is a shelter with a fire pit belonging to Slagelse Municipality; it can be booked via the Slagelse Municipality website.

Events

Gardehusarernes byridt is a summer parade during Slagelse Festuge, in which mounted Guard Hussars from Antvorskov Barracks ride through Slagelse city centre.

The Skovsgaard Mill and Bakery Museum offers working workshops and close-up insights into baking.

Slagelse brings together different ways of experiencing the area: historic sites and museums stand alongside play culture, long and shorter trails, the coast and a summer parade. Those weighing up culture, activity, beach and events when choosing a destination will find clearly distinct themes within Slagelse at Antvorskov, Trelleborg, Gerlev Play Park, Fodsporet, Kongsmark Strand and Gardehusarernes byridt.

Further destination pages for Slagelse: Bisserup, Frølunde, Frølunde Fed, Kobæk Strand, Slagelse, Stillinge Strand, Venslev, Årslev, Svenstrup, Korsør, Skælskør, Rude, Boeslunde, Dalmose.

For the broader travel overview: Zealand.