Herning combines insights into cultural history with contemporary art and activities at Fuglsang Sø. Frilandsmuseet Herning offers a glimpse into life on the heath in the 19th century; HEART is dedicated to contemporary art, while the lake offers beaches and marked routes. If you’re looking for a hotel in Herning, you can plan your stay around these different interests.

Heathland history, collections and architecture

Frilandsmuseet Herning is Denmark’s second-oldest open-air museum. It shows what rural life on the heath was like in the 19th century. Its traditional farmstead includes a draw well, stable, barn and farmhouse. This concrete farmstead ensemble offers a different way to explore history than an art collection or a museum dedicated to industrial history.

The Carl-Henning Pedersen & Else Alfelts Museum is built around a unique collection of works by the artist couple. In 1993, it was expanded with a three-sided pyramid. The collection and architectural history give this museum two interconnected points of interest: the works of Carl-Henning Pedersen and Else Alfelt, and the striking shape of the extension. Guided tours of Birk Centerpark near the museum can be booked; check availability before your trip.

HEART – Herning Museum of Contemporary Art presents contemporary art against the backdrop of Steven Holl’s striking architecture. Each year, the museum presents three to four exhibitions featuring some of the most prominent Danish and international artists of today; the programme may change. Check the current visitor arrangements before your trip. The collection also has its own history: Aage Damgaard, a shirt manufacturer known throughout Denmark, laid its foundations.

The Tekstilmuseet focuses on the textile industry. Over time, it supplied people around the world with clothing and also contributed to the identity and development of Midtjylland. This broadens the cultural perspective beyond visual art: in Herning, industry and textile production are also among the subjects through which the region’s history can be explored.

Sculptures, gardens and open spaces

The Sculpture Park in Birk serves as a large, circular open-air museum. De Geometriske Haver offers a different focus: its maze-like landscape creates new spaces and forms around every hedge. While outdoor art sets the scene at the Sculpture Park, the gardens draw attention to spatial patterns and changing perspectives. Elias, a huge sculpture by Cronhammar, marks the transition to the new millennium.

Fuglsang Sø: Beaches and marked routes

Fuglsang Sø covers 28 hectares; two beaches lie on its eastern side. Marked routes run around the lake. This means you can enjoy two different activities at the same body of water: time at the beach and walks in the surrounding area. Fuglsang Sø DiscGolfPark is located by the lake and offers a beginner-friendly nine-hole course in beautiful surroundings.

Det Blå Rum at Fuglsang Sø is open to everyone. It serves as a social meeting place and a starting point for various water and nature activities. Together with the beaches, routes and DiscGolfPark, the lake offers several ways to spend time away from museums and art. Which ones suit your trip depends on whether you’d rather spend time by the water, play a round on the course or follow a marked route.

Discover more destinations: Skarrild, Kølkær, Skærbæk, Ørnhøj, Sørvad, Avlum, Sunds, Vildbjerg.

For the overview of the wider area: Herning Municipality.