Aarhus

Take in the city’s highlights from a variety of perspectives on this combination walking tour and city drive. Have your camera ready as you pass by the City Hall – unmistakable in its coat of Norwegian marble. The beautiful Aarhus Cathedral manages to dominate not just its immediate surroundings, but also the whole city. It celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2001, and although built as a Romanesque church, stands proudly today as a gothic Cathedral with a unique altarpiece and beautiful frescoes.

Visited by people from all over the country, Den Gamle By is a collection of 75 reconstructed urban buildings making up a typical Scandinavian open-air museum. One of the museums exhibits is the Mint Master’s Mansion from Copenhagen, built at the beginning of the 1680’s. Attended daily by craft-workers, the Museum strives to present old market-town buildings in typical surroundings.

The creator’s philosophy was “only the best is good enough. The world of the child is as infinite as its imagination. Give free reins to its creativity and it shall build a world richer and more imaginative than any adult can conceive”.

Legoland has been developed into a miniature world with houses and statues from many places. See the Statue of Liberty, castles on the Rhine, a temple from Bangkok, a Norwegian village and much more. Included are traditional Danish scenes such as the Amalienborg Royal Palace in Copenhagen, Klampenborg Railway Station and Copenhagen’s port. Everything works – trains run when signals tell them to, church organs play music and ships sail.

Take a Jungle Cruise, pan for gold and glide across the park by tram for a bird’s-eye-view of all the attractions. You might even meet an Indian Chief!

A walk is a wonderful way of experiencing a city, and this tour follows the trails of the Vikings, who founded the city more than 1,000 years ago. Learn about the history of Aarhus, its squares and market places, the charming houses, who lived in them, and the history of the Aarhus River.

The walking tour will show you the development and expansion of a little Danish provincial town, which became the second largest city in the country.

A visit will be made to the Church of Our Lady and the Cathedral with one of the finest altarpieces in Denmark and a remarkable number of frescoes.

Enjoy a drive through the scenic countryside south west of Aarhus, en route to the village of Bryrup where the highlight of your tour, a journey on board a steam train, will commence. Once on board, the whistle will sound and the engine starts to pull its wagons ahead of the steam and smoke. The journey is approximately 5km long and afterwards you’ll have a welcome break in the old station where coffee or tea and homemade muffins will be served. Rejoin the train for the return journey along what is said to be one of the most beautiful tracks in the country.

Your mode of transport changes back to coach and you’ll head for one of the highest viewpoints in Denmark, Himmelbjerget, for views of the Juhlsø Lake and forests.

The area you travel through to Silkeborg is known as the Danish highland because it is very hilly, but full of beautiful scenery including lakes, forest and farmland.

Reaching Silkeborg you’ll join a boat for a leisurely cruise through Borresø Lake and Juhlsø Lake, connected by the longest river in Denmark the Gudenåen (Gods River). At Juhlsø Lake you’ll see one of the highest points in Denmark, Himmelbjerget, before the boat turns back towards Silkeborg. Whilst on board, enjoy a refreshing drink.

On your return journey a stop will be made at the Himmelbjerget viewpoint for photographic opportunities.

Experience the rush of the Wild West Merry-go-Round, Thor’s Hammer and The Eagle or enjoy the cosy and fun rides in Lilliputland with the toddlers.

Tackle the obstacle and playing courses in Tarzanland and Texas Town as you are free to leap, jump and climb surrounded by jungle creatures, gun smoke and gold diggers.

Djurs Sommerland is also ‘just the ticket’ for true water lovers as there are heaps of water adventures on Colorado River, Rio Grande Rafting or aboard Speedy Gonzales. Alternatively, you can visit the giant Aqua park, which has something for everybody.

On a lovely summer’s day there is also the opportunity to relax and spend a peaceful moment in one of the Park’s large, natural retreats. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy the food from restaurants or take-aways.