In Varde, market town history, art and river scenery are all close at hand: the Varde Å flows through the town, while museums, miniature worlds and trails offer different insights into the place and its surroundings. You can tailor your stay to culture, outdoor activities or a mix of both.

Discover market town history and art

Varde’s character as an old market town dates back to 1476. Extensive urban renewal has helped preserve it. Two digitally guided tours through the town centre offer an introduction to the town’s art: Nature Loop and Culture Loop tell stories of nature, history, art and local figures. There are also 48 works of art in the town centre.

The Frello Museum is dedicated to the artistic universe of Otto Frello and offers children a Frello treasure hunt. Varde Miniby recreates the market town as it looked around 1860, with more than 300 faithful miniature buildings at a scale of 1:10. At the workshop of Minimurerne i Varde, visitors can see how miniature bricks are fired and small houses are built. The miniature attractions therefore offer different perspectives: Varde Miniby recreates a historic townscape, while Minimurerne focuses on the craft of building small houses.

The town’s industrial history is also part of the visitor experience. Karlsgårde Værket lies on Karlsgårde Sø, northeast of Varde, and is Denmark’s second-largest hydroelectric power station. An exhibition there explores the history of the power station and the surrounding natural environment. It combines a technical subject with a look at the landscape around the lake.

Hiking between river and meadowland

Kyst til Kyst Stien is a 130-kilometre hiking trail across Jutland, from Blåvandshuk to Vejle. It follows the Varde Å, Holme Å and Vejle Å rivers. In Varde, it reaches the Varde Å at Slotsbanken, passes through the Kongens Kær meadowland and continues to Karlsgårdeværket.

A marked section of Kyst til Kyst Stien towards Varde follows the meadows north of the Varde Å to Janderup Ladeplads, then continues east towards Varde Kær. It is 14.9 kilometres long. The two figures refer to different scales: the 130-kilometre trail describes the route across Jutland, while 14.9 kilometres refers to the marked section. If you prefer to stay by the water, the Varde Å offers another connection to the town: the river is part of the Wadden Sea National Park and flows through Varde.

Fishing for brown trout, rainbow trout, grayling, perch, eel, pike, sea trout and salmon is possible in the Varde Å river system, among other species. This is a distinct activity alongside hiking and exploring the town’s culture. When choosing what to do, you can therefore consider whether you would like to spend time on the trail, by the river or enjoying the cultural attractions.

Green spaces and other activities

Gl. Varde Sommerland is a 12-hectare nature and recreation area. It has a nature fitness trail, themed play areas for children, obstacle trails, shelters for overnight stays, a fire shelter and a barbecue shelter, as well as a toilet building and rest areas. The facilities range from exercise and play to an overnight stay in a shelter.

Tambours Have offers something different: this approximately 25,000-square-metre garden is divided into six distinct areas and features unusual, exotic plants, streams, carved wooden figures and a playground. Arnbjergparken, meanwhile, offers a glimpse into local history. The park is part of the Skansen i Varde area, whose name comes from a memorial stone. Its inscription states that Allenstein’s soldiers built a redoubt in 1627.

If you would like to include sporting activities, Varde Golfklub’s parkland golf course is located in Varde Ådal, near Varde. Facilities include an 18-hole course, training, a practice area and golf cart hire. Varde Å Dag centres on activities and culinary experiences along the river at Hodde, Varde, Janderup and Ho Bugt/Kjelst. These include market and food stalls selling products from local producers. If you would like to include this event in your travel plans, check the dates before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Lønne, Ovtrup, Billum, Borre, Næsbjerg, Grærup, Nymindegab, Sædding.

For the overarching travel overview: Varde.