Jelling

Jelling, a small town in central Jutland near Vejle, holds the royal monuments that mark the beginning of Denmark as a kingdom. The burial mounds, runestones and church are a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most important historic places in the country.

Two great burial mounds stand on either side of a small whitewashed church. Between them are the two Jelling stones. The smaller was raised by King Gorm the Old in memory of his wife Thyra, and the larger by their son Harald Bluetooth in the tenth century. Its inscription records that Harald won all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian, and it is the earliest known use of the country's name, which is why it is often called Denmark's birth certificate. Excavations revealed a vast palisade and the outline of a huge stone ship, now marked out in the grass. Show more

Kongernes Jelling, a museum with free admission, tells the story of the Viking kings, faith and power with interactive exhibitions. The church has medieval wall paintings, and the view from the northern mound takes in the whole site. Lakes and gentle countryside surround the town, and the fjord city of Vejle, the forests of Munkebjerg and the Viking bridge site at Ravning Enge are nearby.

Jelling is reached by train from Vejle and pairs easily with Legoland or a journey through Jutland. A visit takes a few hours. The outdoor monuments are open at all times, while the museum keeps regular opening hours.