Hamlet's Grave at Ammelhede
You will find Hamlet's Grave on Djursland, close to the town of Assentoft and Ammelhede. Here rises one of the mysterious Bronze Age burial mounds - better known as "Hamlets Grav". Walk to the top of the mound and immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscape that stretches out around you.
A window to the past
It's not just an ordinary burial mound; it's a window to the past. Behind "Hamlet's Grave" lies a fascinating story that makes this destination more than just a beautiful vantage point. Take a journey back in time and discover why this mound is so significant.
There have been many more burial mounds in the area, and several finds suggest that this site had a high status in ancient times. Bronze jewellery, weapons and amber beads have been found in the mound.
Today, the mound is 18 metres in diameter and 1 metre high. However, the mound was taller when it was erected in the Bronze Age, when it is believed to have been 2-2.5 metres high.
Shakespeare's famous play 'Hamlet'
'Hamlett's Grave' or 'Hamlet's Tomb' takes its name from another timeless masterpiece - Shakespeare's 1930s play 'Hamlet'. But where did Shakespeare find inspiration? The answer lies in Danish roots, specifically Saxo, the author of 'The Chronicle of Denmark'.
In this epic work, we are thrown back to Iron Age Denmark, where King Amled ruled. History reveals that this particular king, shortly after regaining his throne, met his fateful end. On a field that now bears his name, he clashed in an epic battle against the King of Clay.
So when you stand at "Hamlet's Tomb", you're not just experiencing a Bronze Age mound - you're stepping into a legendary drama that stretches from Saxo's pen to Shakespeare's stage and now to this unique place in Djursland. A meeting of literature, history and reality that makes "Hamlet's Grave" more than just a mound, but a living narrative of the ancient kingdom.
Ammelhede
Ammelhede is the only place name in Denmark that can be traced back to the story of King Amled, Hamlets Grav has been the name of the mound since 1933, when Randers Tourist Association "christened" it and erected a ten-tonne memorial stone on the mound with the text: "Amled Ypperste Oldtids-snille, Teed sig taabe Til hævnens hour, Kaaret på ting Af Jyder til konge, Højsat han hviler Paa Amled Hede".