Løgstør-Gatten

Selected experiences on the stage

Aggersborg Ring Fortress
In the northwestern corner of Himmerland, right by Aggersund, lies Aggersborg. Aggersborg is the largest and oldest of Denmark's five ring fortresses, and in 2023, all five fortresses, Fyrkat, Nonnebakken, Trelleborg, and Borgring, were included on UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Aggersborg must have been an impressive sight, especially from the fjord side. A massive construction with ramparts and palisades clad with timber, erected by Harald Bluetooth in the late 970s. The fortress consisted of a 9-meter wide and approximately 4-meter high circular rampart, pierced by four gates oriented according to the cardinal directions. The inner diameter of the fortress was 240 meters, and inside, two wooden paved streets connected the gates and met at right angles in the center of the structure.

Built on a hillside at one of the narrowest points of the Limfjord, Aggersborg stood out prominently and magnificently in the landscape with a total of 48 longhouses within the ramparts. Aggersborg was more than twice as large as the other four ring fortresses, which was due to its strategic location at the most important traffic artery of the time, the Limfjord, making it a hub for trade and travel, and from here, the east, west, north, and south could be controlled.

Even before the fortress was built, there was a lively trading place with a prominent chieftain's farm here from before the 700s. After the ring fortress was abandoned, the area became a royal farmstead. After the decline of the ring fortress, the area remained in the hands of royal power, and a royal farmstead arose. Today, the now protected manor, Aggersborggård, constitutes the last part of Aggersborg's long history. Aggersborg and Vesthimmerland are associated with the story of the landscape of power during the Viking Age. Archaeological finds from the area show the region's close connection to royal power and the trade wealth that was tied to the Limfjord.

When you visit Aggersborg, you can almost imagine the grand backdrop the fortress was in the Viking Age. If you come in July, you can take a guided tour daily and hear the Vesthimmerland Museum guides tell the story of the place. If you want an even more vivid experience, in late summer you can witness Viking crafts up close when a Viking craftsman meet is held in August. Throughout the year, it is possible to explore Aggersborg on your own using the 'Aggersborg' app and step into the past through a digital window.

At Aggersborg Church, Thorupvej 13, 9670 Løgstør

Frederik VII's canal and the swing bridge
Just a few meters from the fjord in Løgstør, you'll find something as remarkable as Frederik VII's Canal. For centuries, the shallow Løgstør Banks were a problem for shipping traffic in the Limfjord. The Limfjord was closed off to the west at Agger from around 1100-1825, and ships that needed to travel from the western Limfjord were forced to sail past Løgstør to exit the fjord. Eventually, it was decided to dig a canal past the banks because the obstruction had become too troublesome.

From 1856-1861, Frederik VII's Canal was opened. The canal, which stretches over 4.4 kilometers and is approximately 25 meters wide and 3 meters deep, was a lifeline for the ships that could now pass Løgstør without difficulty. Several hundred ships passed through the canal each year, and by the end of the 19th century, the number had risen to nearly 3,000 vessels annually. After the creation of a navigable channel through the Løgstør Banks, the canal was closed to shipping traffic in 1913, but it was decided to preserve it for cultural-historical reasons, and in 1958, Frederik VII’s Canal was protected.

When you are at the canal, do not miss Denmark's oldest functioning swing bridge, which can still be easily turned by a single person, and the Canal Superintendent's House, which has now been converted into the Limfjord Museum. The approximately 25-ton swing bridge was inaugurated along with the canal and is fully operational after several restorations.

The house was built in 1863 shortly after the construction of the canal, and here lived the canal's chief, the canal superintendent, and the bridge inspector with their families. Originally, there was a horse stable in the house facing the fjord for the horses that pulled the ships down the canal. After the closure of the canal, the houses were used for housing the employees of the water construction service until the Limfjord Museum moved in between 1964-1969. Today, the house is a living museum that tells the story of the canal's role in the development of Løgstør.

In July and August, you can hear the entire fascinating story about Frederik VII’s Canal on guided boat tours in the canal and simultaneously see how the bridge is turned.

Kanalvejen 40, 9670 Løgstør

The Heathlands of Himmerland

In the midst of western Himmerland, the heaths of Vindblæs, Oudrup, Ajstrup, and Lundby are once again merging into a natural unity without disturbances such as houses, masts, and power lines from modern civilization. Here you are in the company of sheep, birds, cattle, and surrounded by heather and scattered trees.

The West Himmerland Heaths consist of 1300 hectares and represent a remnant of the once extensive heath that covered a large part of the region between Løgstør, Nibe, Farsø, and Aars and stretched all the way over towards Svenstrup, Støvring, and Rold Forest until the 1800s.

A 20-kilometer hiking trail runs through the area, which you can either take in one go or divide into smaller sections. A hike through the heath reveals a lavish wealth of flowering plants and low shrubs. The heather covers large areas and forms a reddish-purple carpet over the hills in late summer, contrasting against the sky. Where the heather gives way to grasses and herbs, you see a kaleidoscope of flowers in the summer. Here you step into a landscape where nature reigns undisturbed.

Aggersundvej 100, 9670 Løgstør