De fem Halder - The Five Halds near Viborg

800 years of history at Lake Hald

Between the Dollerup Hills and Lake Hald Sø lies ‘The Five Halder’ near Viborg – a historic area where castles, fortifications and manor houses tell the story of power, defence and life across several centuries.

Here you can explore the countryside and discover five historic sites within walking distance: Gammel Hald, Valdemars Skanse, the ruins of Hald Castle, Daas Manor and Hald Hovedgård. The area combines cultural history and nature experiences in a way that allows you to follow the traces of history directly in the landscape.

Take the children along for the ride and visit the nearby forest playground, which draws inspiration from the historic surroundings and events that have taken place here.

The five Halder

Gammel Hald

This is the castle that was never finished. Gammel Hald would have been an impressive castle had it been completed. The castle mound has a diameter of approx. 80 metres and was surrounded by a 2.5-metre-deep inner moat. This suggests that the castle dates from the period 1250–1300.

Valdemar’s Redoubt

Valdemar’s Redoubt is a siege fortification constructed by King Valdemar Atterdag in 1372 to capture Hald Castle. On the largest of the two ramparts, the king apparently built a large catapult.

The Ruins of Hald Castle

In the 1520s, the last Catholic bishop of Viborg, Jørgen Friis, built this state-of-the-art defensive castle. Today, you can still see the ruins of Hald Castle with embrasures for the cannons in the tower, from which the view is absolutely fantastic.

Daas Manor

Daas Manor was built by Major General Gregers Daa in the early 18th century. He constructed a large half-timbered farmstead with barns, stables and a cobbled courtyard using building materials from the old Hald Castle. The main house stood where the two white pavilions in front of Hald Manor now stand.

Hald Manor

The current main building of Hald Manor was erected around 1787 by District Judge Frederich Schinkel. Schinkel was known as the ‘Peasant’s Tormentor’, as he was reportedly a harsh man. The main building was originally built as a gatehouse for Gregers Daas’s manor house, dating from the early 18th century.

Start your visit at Haldladen

Haldladen at Hald Hovedgård is a good place to start your tour. Here you will find an exhibition providing an overview of Hald’s history, featuring animated films, display boards and stories about the individual castles and manor house complexes. 

Haldladen is open from April to October from 8.00 am to 8.00 pm and is closed for the winter from November to March.

Treasure hunt and guided tours

Discover the Five Halder in a different and active way with a family-friendly treasure hunt. The treasure hunt combines nature, history and play. Find out more at The Niels Bugge’s Curse treasure hunt

You can also book a guided tour at Viborg Museum, where you can experience ‘When Viborg Burned’, hear about ‘Gossip and Scandals’, find ‘The Mysterious Grave’ – and many more events and activities.

Book a guide and see activities (danish)

Practical information

• There is free access to the area around De Fem Halder all year round.
• We recommend starting your visit at Haldladen if you want an overview of the history.
• You can explore the five historic sites on foot.
• There are toilets in the area.
• There are good parking facilities, including for buses.
• Remember to wear footwear suitable for paths and natural areas.
• Always check current conditions with Viborg Museum before your visit.

See De fem Halder from above.

See what others are sharing on Instagram

#defemhalder #viborgmuseum #visitaarhusregion