Kongernes Nordsjælland National Park

History

Landscape

A large portion of the national park is taken up by Gribskov, Denmark's 4th largest forest, covering some 5600 hectares (ca 14.000 acres), the landscape here is undulating with varied vegetation, but mostly pine, beech and some majestic old oak trees. The forest is bordered by Esrum Sø to the east, Denmark's 3rd largest lake by area, and largest by water volume, at the southern corner is a protected bay rich on birds, further east through an area of farms and fields lies the shallow, 2-km 2 Gurre Sø surrounded by relatively untouched forest. South of Gribskov is the expansive deer garden Store Dyrehave where the star-shaped trail system used for the royal Par force hunts still dominates. To the north you will find Tisvilde hegn Arresø

Flora and fauna

While not exactly rich on fauna by most standards, for a densely populated area like Denmark - and Zealand in particular, the range of animals to be spotted here is richer than almost everywhere else in the country outside the wadden sea. Mammals living in the park includes many species of deer (red-, roe-, fallow- and sika deer) which constituted a large part of the royal interests in the northern forests. You can also see foxes and the European Badger, and if you are extremely lucky you can sometimes spot Osprey or the White Tailed Eagles. More common sightings are the Common Buzzard and to some extent the Honey Buzzard and Sparrow Hawk.

Climate

Other

• Esrum Møllegård

  phone: +45 48 36 04 00
  address: Klostergade 11, Græsted
  Nature center.

The National Park borders Elsinore to the east, the Zealand North Coast to the north, Frederiksværk and Hundested to the west and Hillerød and Fredensborg to the south, and can be easily accessed by bike or even by foot from these cities.
Route 205 between Elsinore and Frederiksværk pass trough the northern part of the park, while routes 6 and 16 between the same destinations pass through the southern part of the park. Routes 213, 235, 227 and 267 pass through the park in a north-south direction.
Bus 362 from Elsinore stop by Esrum Møllegård. Bus 940R between Hillerum and Gilleleje on the north coast stops at the bus station Mårum Station in the park area.

There are no fees to enter the park, and the only fee you are likely to encounter is the compulsory angling license if you plan on fishing in any of the lakes; 35 kr/day, 100 kr/week or 140 kr/year.

Gribskovbanen (The Grib forest railway) is one of the oldest private railways in the country. It was built between 1880 and 1924, mainly to haul lumber between Grib Forest and Copenhagen, which was a tedious venture to do over land, but it has also carried passengers nearly since its beginnings. Today it mainly carries commuters to Hillerød where passengers can continue with the S-train to and from Copenhagen, but during the summer its also packed with vacationers going to their holiday homes or the beaches on the North Coast, or on small treks in Gribskov (stops: Gribsø, Kagerup & Mårum).
Another way of getting around would be on a bike, from Hillerød two marked bicycle routes takes you towards the North Coast. Route 32 towards Helsinge and Tisvildeleje (Tisvilde Hegn) takes you along the western boundary of Gribskov, and route 33 takes you directly through Gribskov to Gilleleje. Besides those two bicycle routes there are ample of paths through the forests, and scenic thinly trafficked roads to take you throughout the park.

Royal remains

While the royal connotations in the parks name mainly refers to the 3 grand royal palaces of Northern Zealand; Kronborg in Elsinore, Fredensborg Slot in Fredensborg and Frederiksborg Slot in Hillerød, these are in the respective cities, and are not part of the national park - although they can be visited as part of an excursion to the park. There are ruins related to the royal history of the lands contained in the park, that relate to the kings of old, though you'd probably need a strong interest in archaeology or history to go out of your way to see these sites.

• Asserbo Slotsruin

  address: Bisp Absalonsvej 31
  Erected as a monastery by Absalon, the founder of Copenhagen, in the 11th century for the Carthusian Order, it was converted to a palace, taken over by the king, and abandoned after a fire. Archaeological excavations have since exposed the foundations and remaining parts of the walls, and the old moat also remains. Nearby is another excavation of an abandoned village and a number of Tumulus inside the forest

• Dronningholm Slotsruin

  address: Auderødvej 40
  A castle ruin. Built by King Valdemar II (1170-1241) for his wife Dagmar in the 12th century. It was passed on to Seignory, and eventually to decay. Many of building materials were used to reconstruct a local mill after a fire, and so only the foundations remains, but there are nice views over the lake.

• Gurre Slotsruin

  address: Gurrevej 425
  May be the most impressive of the parks ruins, its origins are hazy, but it gained prominence under King Valdemar IV (Valdemar Atterdag), who also expanded the castle significantly in 14th century. According the legend he became so attached to it that he "would give up his place in heaven to keep it", something not lost on various Danish poets throughout the ages. The only visible part remaining is the bast of the main tower, which still rises up to 3 meters above the foundations.

• Søborg Slotsruin

  address: Bygaden 58, Gilleleje
  An important locality from the viking age and up to its days as a royal castle from the 12th to the mid-16th century when it was disbanded following the Count's Feud civil war. Many of the stones were used during the construction of Kronborg castle in Elsinore. The moat and ground layout of the old castle is still visible

Natural Sights

• Esrum CanalA 9-km canal between Esrum Sø lake and the north coast at Dronningmølle, built in 1805 to transport timber from the forests to Copenhagen. The canal lost its importance when the railway was built, and was subsequently abandoned. However, it is still visible in the landscape, and while partly overgrown, parts still carry water and many of the old installations related to the canal is still there. The trail where horses used to haul the prams along the canal, still exists, and offers a fantastic walk.

• FruebjergA historic 65-meter hill-top in the middle of the forest, which towers (well, at least for Denmark) above the surrounding area's and offers some nice views over Northern Zealand. The site was home of the massive fruebjergmødere gatherings at the turn of the 19th century, closely related to Grundtvigs folk high school movement. A tradition that has been revived.

• TroldeskovenA special area of Tisvilde Hegn where 100–200-year-old weather-worn Scots pines with twisted and crooked branches create a peculiar atmosphere, which has prompted locals to dub the area the - enchanted or troll - forest. The phenomenon is caused by strong winds and poor soil conditions.

Other attractions

• Esrum Monastery

  phone: +45 48 36 04 00
  address: Klostergade 11, Esrum
  This used to be the biggest monastery in Scandinavis. Only a few buildings remain. Shops, restaurant, and many activities for children

• Æbelholt Kloster museum

  phone: +45 4824 3448
  address: Æbeltholt 4
  The ruins of the largest medieval Augustinian abbey in the Nordic countries. The small museum on the grounds, has exhibitions about the medical history of the Augustinian order, including a garden with medical herbs, and some 300 skeletons on display! Once every year there is a middle age themed market day held, at the grounds around mid+June.

• Bærhaven

  phone: +45 35 10 10 33
  address: Danstrupvej 5, Danstrup. 3480 Fredensborg

• Canoe and Kayak at Esrum Lake

  phone: +45 2712 4909
  address: Sørupvej 1, Fredensborg
  Rent a canoe or a kayak for an our or a few days.

• Fredensborg Falkonergård

  phone: +45 48 48 25 83
  address: Davidsvænge 11

• Fredensborg Golf Club

  phone: +45 4847 5659
  address: Skovsvinget 25, Fredensborg

Esrum Møllegård tourist centre has a café, open 11.00-17.00 Tu-Su, and a small shop where you can buy some basic snacks and groceries.

• Restaurant Skipperhuset

  phone: +45 4848 1012
  address: Skipperálle 6, Fredensborg

Lodging

• Søåsegård Ferielejligheder

  phone: +45 2361 5516
  address: Sørupvej 23, Sørup, Fredensborg

Camping

Backcountry

In Nyrup Hegn and Klosteris Hegn there is free camping which is rare in Denmark

• Dronningholm

  phone: +45 47 72 30 01
  A campground for up to 10 people near the Dronningholm castle ruins near Arresø lake

• Nordhuse

  phone: +45 47 72 30 01
  a small campground right by Arresø lake

• Hvidkilde

  phone: +45 32 50 00 17
  A campground in an abandoned gravel pit, close to a small spring of the same name.

• Ornedvej

  phone: +45 32 50 00 17
  A small campground in a beech forest

• Nødebo Holt

  phone: +45 32 50 00 17
  Close to the southern end of Esrum sø (lake). Views over the bird reserve, bathing in the lake is possible, and there are tables, benches, a barbecue and campfire.

• Endrup Hegn

  phone: +45 48 48 21 00
  Two shelters in a small forest area near a small village near Fredensborg. Around 3 km from the castle, with room for 5 in each shelter

• RavnebakkenShelter in the eastern part of the Krogenberg Hegn area, well protected from the wind, around 10 sleeping places.

• Edens HaveReally good shelter for up 20 people just around a km from the beach with electricity and toilet facilities, but it requires reservation.

• Elsinore - known as the home of Hamlet
• Zealand North Coast - has plenty of beaches
• Hillerød and Fredensborg - small cities with large castles, just south of the park