In Næstved, medieval city history, church art and a long graffiti tradition come together. There are also exhibitions, a park with distinctive features and a marked route through the landscape around the city. This makes it easy to shape your stay around different interests: historic buildings and art, or trails through forests and natural areas.
Medieval City and Church Art
The Næstved Museum is housed in Helligåndshuset in the city centre. The former House of the Holy Spirit is the only surviving former building of its kind in Denmark. The museum traces the historical development of the medieval city from the Ice Age to the present day. Older buildings also shape the city centre beyond the museum: in many places, buildings, street layouts and courtyard settings date back to the Middle Ages.
Sct. Mortens Kirke in the city centre dates from around the beginning of the 13th century. Among its most notable works of art are the altarpiece and pulpit by Abel Schrøder, dating from 1667. The church is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00 and Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00; it may be closed during church services. Check the opening hours before your visit.
Sct. Peders Kirke preserves medieval lime paintings and church furnishings, including choir stalls from Skovkloster. One lime painting depicts Valdemar Atterdag and Queen Helvig. Visitors can enter the church Tuesday to Friday for quiet reflection or to view the interior. Guided tours can be arranged by appointment in Danish and English. The two churches therefore differ not only in their surviving works of art, but also in their visitor access arrangements.
The Stenboderne offer another glimpse of medieval architecture: they are an exceptional surviving example of a type of dwelling preserved in only a few places in Denmark. Exploring historic Næstved can therefore centre on churches and a museum, as well as a rare type of building.
Graffiti, Exhibitions and a Park
International graffiti artists have left their works throughout the city. Næstved Kunstby builds on a graffiti tradition dating back more than 30 years. The recurring annual event STREET CUT adds to this focus. If you would like to plan your trip around an event date, check the dates for your chosen period.
Rønnebæksholm is Næstved’s art centre and hosts art exhibitions. The grounds also include Herregårdshaven and a musical nature base. The art and park features offer different reasons to include the same place in your stay, without limiting your visit to an exhibition.
Trails Around Næstved
If you are looking for a route through the landscape alongside the cultural sites, Den Grønne Ring is a signposted walking and cycling route of around 32 kilometres. It runs around Næstved through forest and natural areas; the landscapes described include forests, meadows, wetlands and open spaces. Large sections of the route are accessible to wheelchair users.
With a park and observation tower, Munkebakken also adds a distinctive feature to the cityscape. The hill is also home to a memorial stone for Peder Bodilsen. Næstved thus offers several distinct attractions: historic interiors and buildings, public art, exhibitions and a longer route through the landscape. You can choose which of these will shape your stay according to your interests and preferred level of activity.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Tappernøje, Menstrup, Karrebæksminde, Holme Olstrup, Fuglebjerg Municipality, Holmegaard, Sandved, Gelsted.
For the overview of the wider area: Næstved Municipality.
