Lignite, textiles and contemporary art offer different ways to explore the culture of Herning Municipality. The Søby Lignite Museum focuses on the families and workers of the lignite-mining area, while the Tekstilmuseet turns its attention to the textile industry of Midtjylland. There is also art in the forest, lakes and trails through heathland and woodland. Choose the highlights that interest you most – from industrial history to nature experiences.
Work and its stories
The Søby Lignite Museum showcases the working and everyday lives of the families and workers who were active in the Søby lignite-mining area. Films, machinery, tools, furnishings and 1,500 photographs offer insights into their lives and work; there is also a large playground. Guided tours also include a drive through the surrounding landscape. If you plan to take a tour, confirm that it is available before your visit.
The Tekstilmuseet shows how the textile industry shaped Midtjylland and its development. At Børnefabrikken, children can play at working in a textile factory: they sew clothes and transport them onward to the train. Herningsholm Museum also explores life on the heath and the stories inspired by it. It is housed in Herning’s oldest building, dating from 1579. The museum’s themes also include the textile industry, which later shaped the region.
Art in the museum and the landscape
HEART – Herning Museum of Contemporary Art brings together contemporary art and Steven Holl’s striking architecture. The museum presents three to four exhibitions each year featuring leading Danish and international contemporary artists; the specific exhibitions change. Elia offers a different scale: the hemispherical sculpture is 60 metres in diameter, with an 11-metre-high spherical dome rising above it. The Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum preserves around 6,000 works by the two artists.
Local brewing is another discovery: at the restaurant at Bryggeriet Herning, you can sample the brewery’s speciality beers, brewed on site, including Herning IPA.
Nature trails between lake and forest
Løvbakke Nature Centre is part of the peaceful Løvbakkerne nature and woodland area. The nature centre includes a nature school, an exhibition, Løvbakkehuset and a wildlife park. The approximately 17-kilometre Løvbakkerne cycle route passes the nature centre, among other places. The landscape around Præstbjerg Nature Centre is characterised by rolling heathland, oak scrub, small woods and lakes; viewpoints offer vistas across the surrounding area. A 1.3-kilometre accessible circular path leads around Præstbjerg Sø, with viewpoints and benches along the way. Præstbjerg Plantation also has a 5.6-kilometre riding trail.
Deep Forest Art Land brings art into the forest, with more than 80 works of art integrated into the woodland. The collection continues to grow, so the number may change. A marked, five-kilometre trail shaped like a figure eight can be used on foot and with a pushchair, wheelchair or walking stick. It passes through rolling countryside with a stream, meadow and traces of the Ice Age; conditions may vary along the hillier section.
Fuglsang Sø lies just north of Herning and covers 28 hectares. Two bathing beaches are on its eastern shore; there are also signposted trails and a disc golf course. Blå Rum by the lake provides a setting for activities on, in and by the water. Check bathing conditions separately if you are planning a visit to the beach.
Getting there
Herning railway station has train connections to Copenhagen, Aarhus and Skjern; the bus station is also located in the station square. Check current timetables before travelling. Public car parks in central Herning are free, with both short- and long-term parking available. Check the local rules when planning your trip.
Discover more destinations: Kibæk, Kølkær, Skarrild, Sunds, Troldhede, Herning, Ikast, Skærbæk, Ørnhøj, Vildbjerg, Sønder Felding, Sørvad, Avlum, Stakroge.
For the wider travel overview: Central Jutland.
