Silkeborg
Silkeborg is Denmark's Outdoor Capital® and a city situated in the midst of probably Denmark's most beautiful nature.
What do you want to experience?
Photo:Lone Kristjansen&Lone Kristjansen
Welcome To The Lake District Søhøjlandet
The Lake District Søhøjlandet is the highest situated region in Denmark, and this enchanting area is filled with luxuriant woodlands, soaring summits, and clean, deep lakes. In the Lake District, you will find the towns of Silkeborg, Skanderborg and Ry and here, you will find the highest ’mountains’ in Denmark as well as the country’s highest density of lakes and forests.
Visit the Towns around the Lake District
In the very heart of Denmark, you can visit the towns of Silkeborg and Skanderborg located in the wonderful Lake District. Once you are there, you will see very clearly that nature is the focal point of the region. The towns blend right into their green surroundings, and yet they hold an active urban life with cafes, shopping, attractions, and cultural activities all year round.
Forests, Lakes, Hills, and Valleys
The spectacular scenery showcases all its glory in the Lake District
Nearly a third of the Lake District is covered by woodland and is the perfect destination for a hike or a challenging mountain bike-ride in Denmark. The scenery around the entire area is exceptionally beautiful and certainly worth a visit if you enjoy spending time outdoors – regardless of whether you want to get your heart rate up or you are looking for some personal downtime.
In several locations around the Lake District, you will find outdoor operators that rent out anything from canoes to kayaks, bikes, mountain bikes, fishing gear, etc. In other words: Everything you need to experience the unique scenery on land as well as on the water.
The ’Mountains’ of the Lake District
A popular destination in the Lake District is Ejer Bavnehøj, which with its top 170 m above sea level is the highest natural point in all of Denmark. From here, you can take in the magnificent view of fields and meadows, and on its very top, a tower has been erected to commemorate the reunification of Southern Jutland with Denmark in 1920. The combination of the tower, the site, and thrilling stories of witches makes for a great family outing that caters to all generations.
Its Danish name meaning ‘the sky mountain’, Himmelbjerget is the most well-known ’mountain’ in Denmark and sticks out quite visibly with its 147 m. Visitors travel a long way to come and enjoy the amazing view of Julsø lake. Through the ages, the place has been the rallying ground for numerous cultural and historical events, as well. One of them being the erection of the tower on Himmelbjerget’s top in commemoration of King Frederick VII in appreciation of the Danish people’s constitution in 1849.
However, the Lake District has all of seven ‘mountains’ – The Seven Summits. And therefore, the area is a great destination if you would like to practice your mountain climbing during your holiday.
The Gudenåen Stream and the Many Lakes
Many of the lakes around the Lake District are interconnected by the Gudenåen stream, Denmark’s only river. Here, you get to sail on board ’Hjejlen’, the world’s oldest coal-fired paddle steamer. Or, you may want to get even closer to the water and jump in a kayak, a canoe, or on a SUP board, just as many of the lakes are great for swimming with their lovely sandy beaches and wooden piers.
The Forests Invite you Out – All Year Round!
The Lake District is Denmark’s largest woodland. Here, deep forests stretch as far as the eye can see and the serenity embraces you to make you one with nature.
And the remarkable scenery in the Lake District does not only attract humans – animals love it there, too. Therefore, it is possible for you to see a long list of different animal species such as roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, common as well as rare bird species, grass snakes, adders, not to mention a rich representation of fish species, that you can be lucky to catch if you bring your fishing license – and a rod, of course.
The Forests around the Lake District
Photo: Sarah Green
Let the inner piece fall upon you by listening to the sounds and life around you. With a bit of patience, you will see and experience a whole new and amazing world.
The Major Events in the Lake District
The biggest events
Photo: Riverboat Jazzfestival