Explore Himmerland’s craftsmanship

Experience places where the stories are so powerful, they’ve become part of UNESCO’s World Heritage. Step into history – feel it, explore it, and let yourself be swept away. Here, the past comes alive, and you’re invited to join us as we bring great stories to life.

Here, we’ve gathered experiences under the theme TRACES OF CRAFTSMANSHIP, offering inspiration for a day or two in Himmerland.

It is hands that have built Himmerland. From the axes of the first stonecutters to the farmer’s wife’s bread, the Viking’s longhouse, and the mason working on the village church tower. In Himmerland, you can experience the craftsmanship of skilled hands everywhere. You just have to follow the traces – and maybe even try your hand at ancient techniques along the way.

Day 1

The journey begins in Ertebølle, where the Stone Age Center overlooks the Limfjord. Here, you can come face to face with Denmark’s oldest known victim of violence – and with the ingenuity of the Stone Age. Did you know that people back then actually had larger brains than we do today? They needed them – to invent survival techniques from scratch. Try flint knapping, fishing, or shaping clay yourself – and discover why Ertebølle has given its name to an entire period of the Stone Age.

After lunch with Ingrid and Lars at the pancake café at Ertebølle Strand Camping, continue your journey through Himmerland’s open fields to Hessel Manor near Hvalpsund – Denmark’s last living manor farm. Here, the farm looks just as it did in the 1800s: wooden clogs and pots by the bed, people working the fields, children seated at the farmhands’ table. Each season, old crafts and everyday life are brought back to life at Hessel, where you step straight into a bygone era.

Continue your time travel at the Vesthimmerland Museum in Aars, where you’ll encounter the Gundestrup Cauldron – a European masterpiece in silver, adorned with mysterious symbols and a past we still don’t fully understand. The exhibition is filled with finds that reflect the craftsmanship and beliefs of our ancestors: wagon parts, garments, an amphora – and a wizard’s pouch. Together, they tell the story of a people who shaped both objects and ideas.

The museum building, designed by artist Per Kirkeby, is itself a piece of architectural craftsmanship. Take a stroll through the town and spot Kirkeby’s artworks in the streetscape – and enjoy an afternoon coffee at one of the cozy cafés in Aars. If you’d like to know more about the art in Aars, you can listen to fascinating stories on the digital walking tour “Kunstruten” via StoryHunt.

End the day’s tour at the Danish Museum of Everyday Life in Aars, where the 20th century comes to life. The old hair salon is ready with vintage Carmen curlers, and you’re sure to spot your childhood lunchbox or your mother’s telephone in the display cases. A museum full of nostalgia – and craftsmanship from a time when things were repaired instead of thrown away.

Day 2

The next day, continue your journey through time at Aggersborg, where Harald Bluetooth’s largest ring fortress lies as a colossal circle in the landscape. The Viking king’s power was shaped by both sword and saw. The skilled craftsmen who built the fortress weren’t just laborers – they were elite. On-site, you can explore the fortress through digital tours, and during the high season, guided tours offer the chance to learn more about these ancient craftspeople and their techniques.

At the Limfjord Museum in Løgstør, the craft lives on – here, clinker-built boats are still being made by volunteers and boatbuilders who keep a thousand-year-old tradition alive. Explore the boatyard and meet those who still build using the same techniques as the Vikings.

Take a walk along the Frederik VII Canal – hand-dug by 400 German laborers. Along the canal, you’ll find several lovely spots to enjoy lunch with a truly unique view of both the canal and the Limfjord, lying side by side.

Want to experience a little more – perhaps even a place that was once kept secret? Head towards Rold Forest and discover one of Denmark’s best-kept secrets. The hands of Himmerland have also shaped high-level politics and national defense. At REGAN Vest – a top-secret bunker located 60 meters underground – craftsmen quietly built Denmark’s hideout during the Cold War. This is where the government and royal family were meant to continue Denmark, should nuclear war break out. Walls, ventilation systems, pressure doors – everything was made by hand, in complete secrecy. A visit here is both a technical and human journey into a time when everything could change with the push of a button.

Note: It is essential to book your ticket and guided tour in advance!