Birkerød: Art, History and Nature
Accommodation in Birkerød
Art, church history and landscape shape different aspects of Birkerød. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can start by considering whether art, historical traces or time outdoors should shape your stay. In Birkerød, a cultural centre, art exhibitions, artworks in several locations, and distinctive details from its history and landscape offer concrete starting points.
File:Søren Henrik Petersen, Udsigt over Furesø til Dronninggård og Birkerød, 1821, Kksgb12685, Statens Museum for Kunst.jpg
Photo: Søren Henrik Petersen via Source, public_domain
Culture, Art and Church History
The buildings of Mantzius are now home to the cultural centre and the Mantzius Live venue. The town’s history also includes Johan Mantzius, who founded a small boarding school in Birkerød with his wife Elisabeth in 1868. Since 1996, Birkerød Gl. Præstegård has hosted art exhibitions throughout the year, except in July.
Individual artworks also offer points of reference: “Den Grønne Pæl” by Jørgen Haugen Sørensen stands in the garden of Birkerød Gl. Præstegård. “Nordfuglene” by Thorvald Odgaard stands in the small copse near the town hall and library. The sculpture “Skulpturbro” by Egon Fischer was created around 1980 and is part of the Birkerød Library. The artworks are also distinguished by their locations: the library, garden and copse.
The wall paintings in Birkerød Church were uncovered again in 1911; they probably date from the first half of the 14th century. Henrik Gerner’s chains hang on the wall inside the church, to the right of the entrance. Another historical trace is Selvmorderstenen, a Bronze Age stone with carved cup marks in the garden of the vicarage in Birkerød. The stone probably lay in front of the wall surrounding the church and cemetery for several hundred years, and was presumably used as a so-called “Selvmordersten”.
Landscape and Activities
Lake Birkerød Sø lies close to the town centre and station. At 68 metres high, Høbjerg is a viewpoint overlooking Birkerød. The Høbjergsti trail crosses the hill; towards Ravnsnæsvej, it becomes a flight of steps known locally as “Tusindtrapperne”. The lake and viewpoint offer contrasting landscape features, but do not form a single route.
Hestkøbgård was first mentioned in 1370. The park at Hestkøbgård has large, old trees of various species, a hazel walk, an orchard and a small rose garden that has since been converted into an herb bed. Planting details may change over time. Cathrinelystparken has an activity oasis with exercise equipment for strength, balance, coordination, mobility and stretching exercises, as well as massage exercises. There is a bathing spot at Furesøen, near Birkerød Sailing Club.
Birkerød Bio hosts jazz evenings in its cosy cinema lounge. As the event programme may change, check the dates for your preferred period. Mantzius is about a three-minute walk from Birkerød station. The station is served by S-train line A and several bus routes, including route 500S. If Mantzius is part of your plans, you can check the timetable for your chosen day.
Discover more destinations: Store Havelse, Skuldelev, Græsted, Tikøb, Hornbæk, Evetofte, Dronningmølle, Vedbæk.
For the wider travel overview: Hovedstaden.
