Varde: Discover a Market Town, Miniature Town and River Landscape

Varde combines the history of an old market town with river landscapes, miniature architecture and a variety of experiences in the great outdoors. The town’s character dates back to 1476 and has been preserved through extensive urban renewal. Those looking for a holiday apartment in Varde will find a place where culture, nature and shared discoveries each have their own place.

Market Town with Art and History

There are 48 works of art in Varde town centre. Two digitally guided tours, the Nature Loop and the Culture Loop, lead through the centre and tell stories about nature, history, art and notable personalities. This allows you to get to know Varde in different ways: once with a focus on the landscape, and once with greater emphasis on the town’s cultural traces.

The past becomes particularly vivid at Varde Miniby. It depicts the market town as it looked around 1860, with the buildings shown at a scale of 1:10. More than 300 miniature buildings have been constructed as faithful reproductions of the original buildings. At the Minimurerne i Varde workshop, you can also see how miniature bricks are fired and small houses are built. For families, this creates an experience where historic townscapes and craftsmanship come together.

The Frello Museum presents Otto Frello’s artistic universe and offers children a Frello treasure hunt. Another cultural attraction is Karlsgårde Værket on Karlsgårde Sø northeast of Varde. The power station is Denmark’s second-largest hydroelectric power station and houses an exhibition about its history and the surrounding nature.

Experience River Trails and Landscapes

The Varde Å flows through the town and is part of the Wadden Sea National Park. Those who enjoy walking can include the Kyst til Kyst Stien in their travel plans. The 130-kilometre hiking trail crosses Jutland from Blåvandshuk to Vejle and runs along the Varde Å, the Holme Å and the Vejle Å.

The marked section to Varde follows the meadows north of the Varde Å to Janderup Ladeplads and continues eastwards to Varde Kær. This section is 14.9 kilometres long. In Varde, the trail reaches the Varde Å at Slotsbanken and continues through the meadow area of Kongens Kær to Karlsgårdeværket. If you are looking for accommodation for an active holiday, these specific trail sections can provide important guidance when choosing your base.

Nature Experiences for Different Days of Your Trip

Gl. Varde Sommerland is a 12-hectare nature and recreation area with shelters, playgrounds, obstacle courses, a barbecue shelter, a toilet building and quiet areas. It also features a nature fitness route, themed play areas for children, overnight stays in shelters and a fire shelter. The area is connected to the Kyst til Kyst Stien and Arnbjergparken, where Varde Miniby is also located. Gl. Varde Sommerland is approximately 700 metres from Varde town.

Tambours Have adds unusual and exotic plants, waterways, carved wooden figures and a playground to the landscape experiences. The garden covers approximately 25,000 square metres and is divided into six distinct areas. Part of the area known as “Skansen i Varde” is also located in Arnbjergparken. The name comes from a memorial stone bearing an inscription stating that Allenstein’s soldiers built a fortification in 1627.

Activities around the Varde Å

In the Varde Å system, it is possible to fish for brown trout, rainbow trout, grayling, perch, eel, pike, sea trout and salmon, among other species. Varde Å Dag combines activities and culinary experiences along the river near Hodde, Varde, Janderup and Ho Bugt/Kjelst. Market stalls and food stalls selling products from local producers are also part of the day.

Golf can also be included in your choice of holiday activities: Varde Golfklub offers a parkland golf course in the Varde Ådal valley near Varde. The facilities include an 18-hole course, training, a practice area and golf cart hire. This allows you to switch between town history, walks, nature observation and sporting activities without having to decide on the main theme of your stay in advance.

Varde as a Base for Your Accommodation Search

A holiday apartment or holiday home in Varde is particularly suited to your plans if you would like to combine cultural attractions in the town with trails along the Varde Å and excursions into the surrounding landscape. For a stay focused on the miniature town, art and town history, the town itself offers many points of interest. Those who prefer longer walks can give greater priority to the Kyst til Kyst Stien and the river sections. Families can combine the museum, treasure hunt, play areas and nature activities according to their daily rhythm.

Discover More Places

If you would like to extend your search to other destinations, here is a concise selection: Oksbøl, Nymindegab, Agerbæk, Blavand, Borre, Hovstrup, Ansager and Vejers Strand.

To the overarching travel overview: Varde.