Hiking and cycling on Hærvejen around Viborg and Silkeborg
Hærvejen is probably Denmark's best-known cycling and hiking route and runs down through Jutland and further down through Germany. In the Aarhus Region, Hærvejen passes close to Viborg and Silkeborg and is not only a scenic route but also a historical journey down the Jutland ridge.
Grease your bike chain or get your hiking boots out
A trip along Hærvejen will take you through some of Jutland's most beautiful landscapes - from Dollerup Bakker and Randbøl Hede to the springs of Gudenåen. Hiking or cycling along Hærvejen is a must for those who love an active holiday and also enjoy the tranquillity of being in nature. History lies at your feet and you can walk directly in the footsteps of the people who travelled here hundreds of years ago.
Follow 12 stages of Hærvejen through the Aarhus Region
The history of Hærvejen
Hærvejen, which stretches roughly 250 km from Viborg to the Danish-German border, was Denmark's first "motorway" to the south. It was used by merchants in ox-drawn carts, cattle drivers with their animals on their way to markets in Germany and pious Christians on pilgrimage.
Hærvejen was not just one road either, but many different routes that followed the relatively dry stretch along the Jutland ridge. However, all of the roads fell into oblivion in the late 1800s, with the introduction of the railway.
Hærvejen today
Today, Hærvejen is a rambling/cycling trail and bridal path, offering an exciting, historic journey back in time. Several shelters have been established in old inns and on abandoned farms along Hærvejen, so from 1 June to 1 September, you have the chance to sleep in humble accommodation and in a shared room, just as they did in the Middle Ages.
Read more about the Ancient Road on www.haervej.com, where you find both maps, practical information and inspiration for accommodation.