Skals-Hjarbæk

Selected experiences on the route

Prison in Kølsen
To the north of Kølsen, towards the valley and the fjord, there was a hill at the beginning of the 20th century, Klinkhøj, which mainly consisted of marl. Marl was attractive in Jutland because it was used as fertilizer for the sparse heath soil.

The marl quarrying was managed by Alhedens Marl Supply, which borrowed labor from the Horsens Prison. Up to 20 convicts were put to work in the arduous task of extracting the marl, which was later supplemented with an additional ten convicts. To meet the demand, a branch of the Horsens Prison was established in Kølsen.

The marl was extracted manually, and you can imagine that it was a physically demanding job. Every day, 20 railway wagons were loaded with ten tons of marl each. Over the 28 years that the marl quarry existed, an impressive 1.2 million tons of marl were manually loaded. The hill Klinkhøj was gradually spread over the Jutland heath until the quarry closed in 1934.

Today, you can only see the prison guard's house remaining as a quiet testimony to the past, along with a piece of flat land that recalls the former marl pit.

Brunbankevej 60, 8831 Løgstrup

Hjarbæk Fjord
Hjarbæk Fjord has been designated as a wildlife reserve and is a paradise for nature lovers. Here you might be lucky enough to spot otters, herons, kingfishers, bats, and seals.

The area around Hjarbæk Fjord was formed at the end of the last ice age when the region was still covered with ice. During a period of melting, water from Central Jutland flowed into Hjarbæk Fjord. Later, the current reversed, flowing instead to Randers Fjord. Today, the fjord is fed by four streams: Fiskbæk Stream, Jordbro Stream, Skals Stream, and Simested Stream.

Life around Hjarbæk Fjord has historically been shaped by the unique conditions provided by nature, offering the local population opportunities in fishing, seaweed production, marl extraction, and ferry transport.

Today, Hjarbæk is a charming harbor town with an inn, ice cream shop, lifestyle store, campground, golf course, and summer houses. You can explore the quaint fishing hamlet in Kvols and take a drive over the Virksund Dam to experience the picturesque towns and places along the fjord. Also, take a trip to Marens Patter, the beautifully situated round barrows, and visit the Seaweed House in Sundstrup to learn more about seaweed production and enjoy a primitive overnight stay.

Søndersiden, 8831 Løgstrup

Hjarbæk Harbor
Take a deep breath and stroll down to Hjarbæk Harbor, a gem by the Hjarbæk Fjord. A cozy experience awaits you. You can head to the ice cream house for something cool, wander among the artisans and be captivated by their unique creations, or enjoy a well-deserved cup of coffee at the inn.

The harbor's history dates back to the Viking Age, when Hjarbæk served as the port for Viborg, as King Canute the Holy in 1085 gathered his fleet of Viking ships in the fjord and Lovns Bredning. Today, the harbor is home to about 30 traditional Danish boats, and every year in August, old and new boats gather in the harbor for the world championships in traditional Danish boat sailing.

As you walk along the harbor, you can be enchanted by the old boats sailing out on the fjord. And as the day wanes, you are fortunately in the right place to experience one of Denmark's most beautiful sunsets, painting the sky in golden hues over the fjord.

Søndersiden 1, 8831 Løgstrup