Bjernede Church is Zealand’s only round church. Its distinctive design makes a striking mark on the history of Sorø Municipality. In Sorø itself, you’ll also encounter buildings closely connected with Danish monastic and literary history.
Monastery History and Art in Sorø
Klosterporten, a protected medieval gate dating from around 1200, forms the entrance to Sorø Academy, the abbey church and Akademihaven. The church was built in the late 12th century as part of the Cistercian monastery founded by Bishop Absalon on the shores of Lake Sorø. It preserves more than 800 years of Danish history and houses the tombs of Danish kings and bishops. Akademihaven is designed as an English landscape garden, with green lawns, groups of trees and individual trees.
At Sorø Museum, you can explore history in one of Sorø’s oldest buildings: it is housed in Christian IV’s inn, built in 1624–25. An indoor exhibition focuses on B. S. Ingemann and the Danish Golden Age. In Apotekerhaven, the museum has reconstructed part of the botanical garden laid out by Joachim Burser in the 17th century; the garden also teaches visitors about medicinal plants.
Sorø Art Museum is known for its collection of Russian icons, modern art and well-curated special exhibitions. Its collection comprises around 2,500 works from the 18th century to the present day; the special exhibitions change over time. Hauchs Physiske Cabinet offers a different way to explore natural science: research instruments, models, apparatus and toys illustrate scientific principles.
Church Art and Literary Connections
Fjenneslev Church brings together architecture and medieval visual art. Its distinctive twin towers are associated with the noble Hvide family. Inside, the church preserves frescoes dating from around 1150, among the oldest surviving medieval frescoes in Denmark. The memorial site by the church is freely accessible.
Tersløsegaard is also associated with a Danish writer: it is the only surviving place known to have been lived in by Ludvig Holberg, and today it houses the Ludvig Holberg Museum. Important for planning: the museum will be closed for restoration work during the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
Around Lake Sorø: Two Routes, Two Highlights
The Sorø Søsti is an 8.5-kilometre circular route around Lake Sorø. It passes through an old beech forest and by Sorø Academy. The route is mostly flat, with well-maintained paths and rest areas, and is suitable for families with children. The Digterruten Ingemann is considerably shorter at 3.5 kilometres and is also a walking route around the lake. Mobile audio stories add to the experience. Its name recalls the poet and writer Bernhard Severin Ingemann, who taught at Sorø Academy from 1822 until his death in 1862. When comparing the two circular routes, length, trail character and audio stories offer practical points of reference.
Cultural cycling routes also explore a range of themes: Sorø has four routes through Stone Age landscapes, past medieval monuments and to places associated with Holberg and Ingemann. A free app complements them with information about sights, readings of texts about Holberg and four route-specific podcasts.
Lakes, Forest and Practical Information
Sorø’s landscape includes green forests, deep lakes, meadows, marshes and open countryside. In the Tystrup-Bavelse area, hills, old forest and lakes shape a landscape formed by the Ice Age. Visitors can swim, hike, canoe, watch birds and fish there. In Suserup Forest, the woodland has been left to develop naturally since the end of the 19th century; visitors must stay on the paths.
Kongskilde Nature Centre is housed in an old watermill and includes a nature exhibition and an aquarium, both open to visitors year-round. A marked forest path leads from its car park to the Frederikskilde long dolmen. Another practical point of reference concerns access to the water: the path from the nature centre car park to the bathing spot with a jetty on the shore of Frederikskilde Forest is wheelchair accessible.
Bus 615 departs from Sorø Station and stops in Kongskilde. From the bus stop, it is about a three-minute walk to the entrance to the hiking area; check the current timetable before travelling. On Lake Sorø, Sorø Bådfart offers boat trips on Lille Claus. As timetables may vary seasonally, it is a good idea to check the current schedule before your visit.
Discover more destinations: Sorø, Fjenneslev, Alsted, Nyrup, Munke Bjergby, Ruds Vedby, Solrød, Greve Municipality.
For the broader travel overview: Zealand.
