Ringsted Between Monastic History and Lakeside Landscapes

The Ringsted Museum presents the city’s history through the centuries in permanent and special exhibitions.

Culture and History

The cinema area of the Ringsted Museum shows historical films from Ringsted. Children can try making flour there using an old hand mill.

The Ringsted Radio Museum features 50 thematic exhibitions on technological development from 1885 to around 2010. In addition, there are around 1,000 devices from a collection of approximately 5,000 devices.

Sct. Bendt’s Church houses the tombs of Danish kings and queens. Ringsted Monastery was founded in the 1080s, making it one of Denmark’s oldest monasteries. It remained a Benedictine monastery until the Reformation in 1536.

Ringsted Windmill is Denmark’s only gallery smock mill still in operation. It mills organic wheat flour, organic wholemeal wheat flour, organic rye flour, organic Graham flour and organic rye flour made from sifted flour.

Lakes and Nature

At Haraldsted Sø, there is a marked 1,000-metre swimming lane for long-distance swimming near Vrangeskov. Vrangeskov offers twisted beech trees, slopes with numerous springs and views across Haraldsted Sø towards Ringsted.

The adventure trail along the shore of Haraldsted Sø crosses numerous streams and wetlands, with wooden bridges along the way.

The 460-year-old Allindelille Fredskov is known for rare plants, including the fly orchid. The protected part of the forest covers approximately 65 hectares.

At 263 hectares, Gyrstinge Sø is the largest lake in Ringsted Municipality. Haraldsted Sø stretches for approximately 5 kilometres and covers around 200 hectares, winding through narrow passages.

Kværkeby Bird Reserve has existed since 1970. Gunnar Goddik established it in a disused gravel pit with surrounding peat cuttings.

Active Adventures

The Ringsted Adventure Trail is a nature and activity trail covering a total of 25 kilometres and leading through most of Ringsted Municipality. Between Høm in the south and Haraldsted in the north, it partly follows long-distance hiking trail 6, Sjællandsleden.

The Ringsted Adventure Trail has marked routes, toilets, birdwatching towers, shelters, and the Bike Friends and Hike Friends services. White-tailed eagles and other birds of prey can be observed along the trail; the white-tailed eagle breeds at a secret location in Humleore Skov and searches for food particularly at Haraldsted Sø.

For further orientation in the area, you can also visit the pages on Ringsted, Haraldsted and Jystrup Midtsj.

Routes and Events

The Knud Lavard Pilgrimage Route begins at Knud Lavard’s tomb in Sct. Bendt’s Church and ends in the village of Haraldsted.

The Ringsted Medieval Festival is a historical festival held in Klosterlunden in central Ringsted, first staged in 2009. It features fire shows, music, theatre and the Valdemar’s Workshop family area.

To the overarching travel overview: Zealand.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Odsherred, Lejre, Guldborgsund Municipality, Vordingborg Municipality, Holbæk Municipality.