Denmark’s Jutland Peninsula

The ferry taking us from Gothenburg, Sweden to Denmark is large. It needs to be as the route between Goteborg in the  far south of Sweden to Frederikshavn in northern Denmark is a very popular one. (Reservations are strongly recommended!)

The Stena Line operates two types of ferries on this route. We take the faster catamaran ferry and will be in Denmark in two hours…but first we have to navigate the rocky islands near Sweden. It has been at least 40 minutes since our departure and we are still among the rocks.

 

We did not bring a car (you could bring your car on the ferry) so we have a bit of a walk to the train station once we arrive in Frederikshavn. Hopefully our Scandic Rail Pass is good here as the station is unmanned and we do not know how to use the ticket machines!

My first surprise was seen from the train windows…those white towers way out in the water. Whole “fences” of white towers out in the water. Why on earth would you need a fence out there?

My brain finally figured out what they were…but not soon enough for my camera to get a clear picture of them. So here is one of my white fence posts out in a field.

Hey, do not laugh at me! There is very little electricity generated this way in the area I live in. What the brain is not familiar with is hard to identify!

Our “home” for the week is just outside of Aalborg…which turns out to be a lovely, interesting city. But right now I am hungry and not much is open near our rural house at this hour! We luck out in the town of Aars where we find Cafe Jensen and have our first meal in Denmark.

 My fish platter and my hubby’s steak were delicious.

Over the next week we have fun exploring this lovely area in our rented car. Here are a few highlights of our journeys on the back roads of North Jutland and West Jutland.

1. Farm land

Wheat fields, corn fields, dairy farms

This is very much an agricultural area. Farm buildings seem to be built in a compound style with a courtyard in the centre.

2.Water…you are never far from the water

Logstor harbor

We stop in the town of Logstor and take a walk on the pier

where we watch a family launch their motorboat.

Sometimes we are not sure if we are on a country road surrounded on both sides by water…or if we are driving on a dyke. We had this feeling when driving in the Vejilerne Nature Reserve. Driving on a one lane road with only small pullouts while observing swans, herons, geese…and fishing nets. Quite an experience for us who live our regular lives days away from any substantial body of water!

Small car ferries take you across bodies of water when there is no bridge. This ferry is from Hvalsund to Sundsore. Or is it the ferry from Thyboron to Agger?

I am not sure!! There were a lot of little ferries!

Much larger boats in the harbour at Aalborg.We lucked out and saw a tall ship there!

3. Old windmills

If you had to take a guess, when would you say this windmill was built?

Seriously…what year?

It is in good physical condition. So, how old is it? 50 years? 100 years?

I had to go back twice to make sure I read the plaque correctly.

1827 is when it was built.

4. Limestone caves

You are correct! These are not the limestone caves…but this scene is from very close to the caves.

We visit the Monsted Limestone Caves near the town of Viborg. During the winter months they are closed as the caves are used by bats (a rather misunderstood, interesting species). We are here in the summer so we can don our hardhats and take a walk on the two kms of lit pathways (No way are we…well, at least not me!…going to venture onto any of the other 60 kms of underground paths!)

As you walk through the cave entrance you are immediately hit by the coldness. No wonder the caves are used for storing cheese year round. Big caverns, Water in lakes and ponds. Interesting!

A multimedia show over one of the lakes tells the history of the caves.

5. Churches (Kirkes)

Church architecture very different from styles we are used to at home in Canada.

6. Sand dunes

I love the sand dunes along the west coast.

Maybe on another visit we can spend all our time on this coast!

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Happy travels!