Discover Svejbæk: Julsø, Trails and Culture

Svejbæk is situated in a landscape where water, trails, history and vibrant culture come together. Julsø stretches from Laven to Svejbæk, while protected meadows, heathland hills and the outdoor area of De Små Fisk can be explored in the surrounding area. Anyone looking for a holiday apartment in Svejbæk can choose their accommodation based on the experiences they want from their holiday: days by the water, hikes, ferry trips or cultural impressions.

Water and trails around Svejbæk

A prominent landmark is Ludvigslyst. The site is located immediately east of Svejbæk, in the northwestern corner of Julsø. The Ludvigslyst hiking route runs around or through the protected meadows near Ludvigslyst. A section of this route, marked in yellow, forms a small part of the Himmelbjerg Route. This makes it possible to consider different trail ideas when planning your day, without experiencing the landscape in only one way.

The meadows at Ludvigslyst are grazed by livestock belonging to the Sejs-Svejbæk Kogræsserlaug. In the immediate vicinity of Svejbæk, Sejs Hede also preserves the last remaining heathland hills that shaped the Sejs-Svejbæk area before the hills were afforested and the flat meltwater terraces were developed. These two landscapes give your stay different accents: here, the open, grazed meadow landscape takes center stage; there, the preserved heathland.

The surrounding area offers further destinations for holiday days focused on the water. De Små Fisk is a destination for outdoor life on and along the Gudenå for locals and tourists. The outdoor area at Brassø has a bathing jetty. At Ludvigslyst in Svejbæk, there is also a public bathing area recommended for swimming in Julsø. If you are traveling with children or want to combine different interests within the family, you can choose between walks, observing the landscape and spending time by the water.

Ferry, excursion boats and views

Ludvigslyst is primarily a boarding and disembarkation point for the excursion boats on the Himmelbjerg Lakes. Ludvigslyst is also designated as Stop I of the Hjejleselskabet. Near Svejbæk, the Himmelbjerg Route can be crossed by the solar-powered ferry “Søhøjlandet”. The solar ferry has been powered by solar energy since 2015 and operates a scheduled service between Skyttehuset and Ålekroen in Svejbæk. For your planning, this means checking whether a day of hiking, a crossing or a boat trip best suits your preferred travel pace.

In the immediate vicinity of Svejbæk, the 25-metre-high tower at Himmelbjerget offers good views of the surrounding area, particularly the hills north of Julsø. The viewpoint complements the trails and water-based experiences with a perspective over the landscape. This means a stay can include both active sections and a deliberately slower moment with expansive views.

Church, cuisine and local traditions

Svejbæk also has specific cultural destinations. Sejs-Svejbæk Church features modern church architecture and art by Mogens Andersen. In principle, it is open every day during the daytime, provided no church service or other ecclesiastical event is taking place. The church also hosts several concerts throughout the year. Those interested in architecture, art or music can therefore include these aspects in their travel plans independently of a day spent purely on an excursion by the lake.

The region’s character also includes Traktørstedet Ludvigslyst, whose cuisine is based on organic and local ingredients. Every year, the Svejbæk Grundejerforening organizes a Midsummer’s Eve celebration at Ludvigslyst. Together with the landscapes, waterways and cultural offerings, this creates a destination that allows different kinds of holiday days to be combined.

The right base for your trip

When looking for accommodation in Svejbæk, it is worth first determining your personal priorities. Would you like to explore trails such as the Ludvigslyst route, plan swimming and water-based activities, use the solar ferry, or combine the church, concerts and local cuisine? Even when different age groups are traveling together, this order of priorities helps you sort the activities you want to do and then search more specifically for a holiday apartment or holiday house in Svejbæk. The town’s history complements the natural experiences: when the Skanderborg–Silkeborg railway line opened on 2 May 1871, a railway station was established in Svejbæk, and the town began to develop as a railway town.

Discover more destinations

If you would also like to explore other destinations, you can find more places here: Them Municipality, Bording, Ry, Guldforhoved, Linå, Skygge, Silkeborg, Lemming.

For the main travel overview: Silkeborg Municipality.