Bevtoft between church history and river nature

Bevtoft combines historical landmarks with a landscape in which waterways, meadows and woodland are closely interconnected. For travellers who want to combine culture and nature, the Romanesque-influenced church, a commemorative stone, Bronze Age burial mounds and the renaturalised Gelså are among the defining features of the town.

Church and commemorative stone

Bevtoft Kirke dates back to a Romanesque chapel that had already been expanded into a complete parish church by the end of the 12th century. Its lead-covered brick tower belongs to the Tørninglen type and adds a distinctive architectural accent.

Opposite Bevtoft Kirke, on Krügersvej in 6541 Bevtoft, stands the Genforeningsstenen i Bevtoft. The ten-tonne stone was erected on 22 September 1922 on the initiative of the two Bevtoft residents Jørgen Schmidt and Chr. Brink. It was financed partly through private funds and partly with financial support from the Bevtoft parish council. Its location opposite the church makes the two sites a closely connected historical reference point in the townscape.

Bevtoft Plantage and paths along the Gelså

Bevtoft Plantage shifts the focus from architectural history to the landscape and older traces of human history. It contains a total of six Bronze Age burial mounds. The Bronze Age burial mounds give the plantation a historical depth, while the Valsbæk crosses the area as a present-day landscape feature. The small Valsbæk watercourse also flows through the plantation. A dog exercise forest has been established in the northern part.

The Gelså also shapes the landscape around Bevtoft. The river was renaturalised here in 1989 and now winds through the meadows again, approximately as it did before it was straightened in 1952. Its present course therefore represents the transition from a straightened alignment to a winding riverbed. As part of this renaturalisation, the network of paths along the river and in its surroundings was expanded. For orientation in the landscape, the path network is therefore a concrete point of reference alongside the river course. Those travelling on foot experience the interplay of watercourse, meadows and paths as one coherent landscape.

The “Æ bette hyt” shelter in Bevtoft overlooks the river valley as far as the Gelså. This view directs attention to the course of the river and the landscape beyond the immediate location. In addition, the Bevtoft Borgerforening built the “Æ hyt” fire hut in November 2018, which, according to the description at the time, was open to everyone to use free of charge. Both sites offer different focal points in connection with the river valley and its surroundings.

Find accommodation in Bevtoft

Those looking for a hotel or other accommodation in Bevtoft can choose their location according to their own interests: around the church and the Genforeningsstenen, fixed historical points take centre stage. In the plantation and along the Gelså, the focus is instead on paths, waterways and meadows. For planning your day, this means choosing between historic town landmarks and an exploration shaped more strongly by the landscape.

For the overarching travel overview: Haderslev Municipality.

For further orientation, you can also discover Sommersted Sommersted, Stenderup Stenderup, Starup Starup, Halk Halk, Gram Gram, Hejsager Hejsager, Mølby Mølby and Råde Råde.