From Bindeballe, you hike to one of the main towns on the Ancient Road Hærvejen; Bække. Over the 18 kilometers of this stretch, you will pass by historical finds such as the Hamborggård Stone and Klebæk Høje. At the Hærvejshuset, you can gain insights into the history of Hærvejen, and outside Bække, you will encounter a protected section of the original old military road tracks.
Bindeballe-Bække
Landscape sculpture in Tørskind gravel pit
As you walk through the Tørskind gravel pit, you enter an artistic universe. Here, in the heart of the Vejle river valley, you'll find one of Denmark's few landscape sculptures, created by Danish artist Robert Jacobsen and French artist Jean Clareboudt.
These monumental sculptures invite you to experience nature in a new way. All nine sculptures are made from natural materials: concrete (sand and stone), iron, granite, and wood. The sculptures create a dialogue between heaven and earth, and place us, the small humans, into play within the vastness of nature
Jean Clareboudt was responsible for the planning of the gravel pit area, so you can wander through the area and follow the sun's path from its rise in the east to its setting in the west. Each of the nine individual sculptures forms part of a greater whole, uniting landscape and art in a unique way.
No matter the time of day or year you visit the gravel pit or the nearby Vejle river valley, you are in for an extraordinary experience.
Tørskindvej 98A, 6040 Egtved
The Hamburg Farm Stone
When you stand by the Hamburg Farm Stone, you are not just standing by a large rock – you are standing by a piece of living history. The impressive erratic boulder, carved by the ice age, now rests proudly by the main road north of Bække, close to the Hærvej trail.
The ice age brought the stone from the Åland Islands and left it here as a testament to nature's magnificent forces. As you gaze upon it, you are close to the ice's boundaries, the point where the glacier melted and let its burden fall; in fact, you are very close to the terminal moraine or the main stationary line.
But legends also tell of another journey for the stone. Perhaps it was Harald Bluetooth who was in the process of moving it to Jelling, until his son Sweyn Forkbeard rebelled, and Bluetooth had to abandon and leave the stone. After all, the Defence Command had better luck moving the stone in 1990. Originally, the stone lay 20 meters to the west and underground, but they moved it to its current location.
The Hamburg Farm Stone is made of porphyritic granite, about 3 meters tall and measures around 4.5 x 4.5 meters, and it is estimated to weigh 50 tons. With its irregular shapes and cracks, the stone carries the story of past forces and human endeavor. Next to the stone, you can see that there are two smaller stones made of the same material.
Hamburg Farm Road, 6622 Bække
Hærvejshuset
At Hærvejshuset in Bække, you can feel at home and gain insight into the entire fascinating history of the Hærvejen.
During the summer season, in the afternoon, you can meet volunteers from the local area who are happy to tell you about Bække's unique history along the Hærvejen and provide practical tips over a cup of free coffee. Whether you arrive on foot or by bike, the doors are open to everyone traveling on the Hærvejen, because outside the summer season, you can borrow the key to Hærvejshuset at Brugsen, which is located just opposite. At Brugsen, there is access to a toilet and the possibility to buy coffee if Hærvejshuset is unmanned.
Inside the house, you can immerse yourself in an exhibition about how the landscape around Bække has shaped the course of the Hærvejen over time, and discover that the part of the Hærvejen route you follow through Bække is authentic and follows the old Hærvejen's course. Before you leave the house, you can share your experience in the guest book.
Vestergade 2, 6622 Bække
How do you get to and from the route using public transport?
You can find your way to the stage using public transport by using the Journey Planner and the Hærvej app. To get to the starting point of the stage, you should enter the destination 'Bindeballe' in the Journey Planner. Once you arrive, you can use the Hærvej app to find your way to the Hærvej trail.
Useful links
Journey Planner: www.rejseplanen.dk
Get a stamp in your Hærvej Passport
On this stage, you can get a stamp in your Hærvej Passport at Bindeballe Church.