Mariagerfjord Municipality between Fjord, Forest and Culture

Mariagerfjord Municipality combines the landscape around the fjord with varied cycling and hiking routes, deep forests, a peaceful bathing beach and places with a distinctive cultural history. The region is particularly vividly experienced on the approximately 30 km Villestrup Å Route: The A-B route leads from Stinesminde on Mariager Fjord to Rebild Bakker in the heart of Rold Skov and passes through fields, forests, streams and landscapes with beautiful views.

Cycling

The route around Mariager Fjord passes through fjord landscapes, towns and historic areas in Mariagerfjord. It runs mainly on cycle paths and quiet country roads; some sections lead over gravel and forest tracks. A shorter option is the 5 km Ajstrup Route, a combined cycling and hiking route from Hadsund to Ajstrup Bay.

Hiking

The Panorama Route begins at Hobro Marina and leads through a varied landscape with elevated viewpoints and natural paths along the fjord. It is clearly signposted and can be completed by most hikers in around three hours. The 12.2 km Mariager Route passes through Mariager’s streets, natural landscapes and historic attractions.

The Mariager Route passes the old Mariager Monastery and Hohøj, which is considered the largest Bronze Age burial mound in Northern Europe. Along the way, there are views of Mariager Fjord; the route also leads through Mariager’s well-preserved centre and through the rose garden with numerous colourful flowers. At Katbjerg Odde, it passes through hilly terrain and old deciduous forests, over winding streams, past limestone-rich springs and through flower-rich nutrient-poor meadows.

Nature and Coast

Øster Hurup has one of the most family-friendly bathing beaches on the east coast. The water is shallow and calm, and the sand is soft. The southern part of Rold Skov lies in Mariagerfjord and offers deep forests, hilly terrain, as well as opportunities for hiking, cycling and nature experiences.

Culture

Kunstetagerne Hobro is a museum of modern art and design housed in Bie’s former brewery from 1857. Exhibitions of Danish and international contemporary art change there regularly. Mariager Saltcenter combines salt exhibitions and traditional crafts with a salt bath and activities for families by the fjord. Mariager Sydesalt is produced by hand from underground brine originating from a region that was covered by the sea approximately 260 million years ago. The Saltcenter also includes a replica of an old Polish salt mine with the FunRide film underground.

Fyrkat is one of the five Viking Age ring fortresses of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, built around 970–980 AD. With an entrance ticket to Viking Museum Fyrkat, you gain access to the chieftain’s farm with vivid reconstructions, the mill farm with the museum exhibitions and the nearby Viking fortress. The Mariager-Handest Heritage Railway runs historic trains between Mariager and Handest on Denmark’s longest heritage railway.

Havnø Mølle is a thatched Dutch windmill dating from 1842 and the oldest still-operating windmill in North Jutland. After extensive restoration from 1995 to 2001, it opened as a working museum mill. It is situated in a scenic landscape between Mariager Fjord and Lounkær Skov. In summer, guided tours are available on selected Wednesdays; on special milling days, flour is milled and sold under the name “Havnø møllemel”.

Cirkusmuseet i Rold is housed in the former winter quarters of Circus Miehe. These former winter quarters are Denmark’s only surviving wooden circus building. The museum presents a permanent exhibition on Danish circus history with posters, objects and circus costumes. At Artistens Værksted, visitors can try circus arts themselves. The riding house of Cirkusmuseet i Rold was built in 1912 as part of the winter residence of Circus Miehe.

Places

The municipality includes the towns of Hadsund, Hobro, Mariager, Als, Helberskov, Øster Hurup, Ajstrup, Astrup, Glenstrup and Rold.

To the higher-level travel overview: North Jutland.