Things to do locally
The holiday complex Sankt Helene lies in Tisvildeleje. West of Tisvildeleje – next to Denmark’s fifth largest forest named ‘Tisvilde Hegn’ – you find miles of sandy white beaches that are paradise especially for children. This is a sheer masterpiece of clean, unspoilt nature.
One of the reliable signs that our beaches and sea water are clean is the blue flag. The Open Air Council has awarded the blue flag to two locations in the Municipality of Gribskov. Since 1988, the beach at Tisvildeleje has been allowed to fly the blue flag.
This proves that we have one of the most attractive beach areas along coast of the Kattegat featuring sand beaches, clean water and a lifeguard service.
Helene Kilde Spring
The nearest beach from Sankt Helene is the beach at Helene Kilde Spring. Helene Spring is one of Denmark’s most famous springs, and legend has it that anyone whose illness has not responded successfully to other forms of treatment must come to the Spring on June 23, in Danish called ‘Sankt Hans’ or Midsummer’s Eve.
Draw the amount of water you expect to drink in the course of the night and then direct your steps towards Helene’s grave; stretched out there, drink of the mystic health-giving water, and when the morning light has finally dawned afresh, you will be cured of your ills.
Desertification Monument
In the centuries leading up to 1730, the area currently known as Tisvilde Hegn nature reserve turned into a sandy wasteland. By dint of hard work and a programme of forestation, the encroaching desertification was halted. ‘Sandflugtsmonumentet’, erected in 1788 on a hilltop at the end of the avenue ‘Alléen’ in Tibirke, commemorates the achievement.
Glassblowers
Within 2-3 km from Sankt Helene you will find 2 glassblowers. If you want to visit a real glassblowers workshop we warmly recommend both Arresø Glashytte på Nyvej 18 i Tisvildeleje eller LaMa Glas. In both places you have the opportunity to see a glassblower work or just take a closer look at all the beautiful glasswork.
The Prehistoric Road
In the 1940s, a 150 metre long and about 4.800 years old post-built bridge and a paved road from the Iron Age were discovered in the Ellemose marsh at the foot of Tibirke Hills. The posts of the bridge were relatively thin and made of hazel. They have probably supported a superstructure of woven mats laid out on the marsh ground. Don't forget your wellies when you visit the Prehistoric Road!
A folder from the Danish Forest and Nature Agency about ‘Ellemosen’ is available at Sankt Helene.
Tibirke Bakker Nature Reserve
Preserved before nature conservation as such began, this beautifully scenic area with Scotch pines, junipers and heather-covered hills cultivated to transform the sand dunes left by desertification is a favourite destination for local residents and tourists alike. From the vantage point ‘Udsigten’ there is an excellent view of Arresø Lake, a stretch of water from Roskilde Fjord and the woodlands of Gribskov.
Troldeskoven - the Enchanted Forest
Troldeskoven crouches in the western section of Tisvilde Hegn which stretches from Tisvildeleje along the coast to Asserbo Plantage. Troldeskoven is peopled by Scotch pines of 100-180 years of age that have transformed into strangely looking figures by illness. The children will love it, if you tell them stories, while the trees in their strange forms and figures come to life – just use your imagination!
A map directing you to Troldeskoven is available at the reception. Approximately 45 minutes by foot and 20 minutes by bike.
Fishing
Bring your fishing rod or rent one at Sankt Helene. A daily fishing licence costs DKK 25; monthly: DKK 75; and annual: DKK 100. Fishing licences and maps of the fishing grounds are available from Helsinge Tourist Office. The nearest Put & Take is app. 25 kilometres away.
Mills
Ramløse Mill, Møllelodden 4, Ramløse, tel. +45 48 30 16 31
There has been a mill at Møllelodden since 1882. The present splendid smock mill was built in 1908 and remained operational until its final commercial milling in 1937. However, the mill was preserved and bought in 1979 by Helsinge Municipality Museum Service. On certain Sundays, the whole site is animated, as millers and their apprentices grind corn and demonstrate the workings of the mill. Visitors can buy coffee and Ramløse Mill rolls.
Pibe Mill, Høbjergvej, Høbjerg, tel. +45 48 30 16 31
Pibe Mølle is a post mill dating back to 1789. Post mills, which are turned into the wind by hand, are the oldest form of mill in Denmark. Pibe Mølle stands on its original beautiful site in cultivated, yet unspoiled landscape south of the small town of Høbjerg. The mill was run as a windmill until 1921 when it was taken over by Denmark’s National Museum. Today, it is under the aegis of Helsinge Municipality Museum Service. Every summer, the local Guild of Millers runs the mill on certain Sundays.
Local museums
At Laugø Smithy you can see how smiths used to shoe horses. On Wednesdays and Thursdays between 11 am - 12 am and 1 pm - 4 pm two skilled blacksmiths - Ernst and Hans - demonstrate and explain the old craft of shoeing horses.
Laugø Smedjes åbningstider:
15. juni-15. september: ons-tors kl. 11-12 og 13-16
Uge 42: ons-tors kl. 11-12 og 13-16
Udenfor sæsonen efter aftale på tlf. 48 30 16 31
’Kongensgave’ – Town museum of Helsinge
Østergade 55, 3200 Helsinge
‘Kongensgave’ is the name of a stately home on the eastern outskirts of Helsinge. The house was built in 1849 by the town magnate J. J. Rundin after the farm by the same name had burned down. When the farm was re-built, the house retained its independence and for a number of years it was the home of judges of the Danish District Court. Today, the farm of the name ‘Kongensgave’ has been demolished, while the above-mentioned main building remains and is now protected. In the autumn of 1999, the municipality of Helsinge bought the building with the purpose of making it the town’s museum.
Åbningstider
1. januar - 31. maj:
Onsdag til fredag 13 - 16, lørdag 10-14
1. juni - 31. august:
Tirsdag til lørdag 13-16
1. sept. - 20. dec.:
Onsdag til fredag 13-16, lørdag 10-14
Efterårsferien:
Åbent alle hverdage 13-16, lørdag 13-16
NB: Lukket 1. maj, Grundlovsdag og alle helligdage
Entre. Børn og unge under 18 år gratis.
Holbo Herreds’ Centres for Cultural History
www.holbo.dk
Holbo Herreds’ Centres for Cultural History (HHKC) is a private foundation and a museum approved by the Danish Government. The HHKC is an association consisting of eleven cultural history museums and two local history archives covering the municipalities of Gribskov. In addition to the general coverage of cultural and local history subjects, we also specialize in local fishing and milling.
The ruins of Asserbo Castle
Founded by Bishop Absalon in the 1100s as a monastery for monks of the Carthusian Order, the castle was taken over first by the King around 1560 and in subsequent centuries by drifting sand. The castle was liberated from the sand in two phases: initially by King Frederik VII in 1849 and then by National Museum excavations in 1972. The ruins convey a magnificent impression of the castle in bygone days.
Churches
The churches in the municipality of Gribskov have been built within the period from app. 1100 – 1500. If you know how to read them, the many alterations and renovations made to the churches since then can tell you quite a bit about the history of Denmark.
Artists
It is not easy to explain exactly why artists and great personalities chose to settle in this attractive area around Tisvilde, Tibirke and Arresø Lake. We will nevertheless try to do so because the area is still known as a place where artists, composers and scientists choose to live either permanently or in certain periods of the year.
As has been said in many books, the area is characterised by calmness, a fantastic light and inspiring natural sceneries. One of the greatest artists of them all was Julius Paulsen. As early as 1884 he wrote that Tisvilde was a major source of inspiration for landscape painting, but it was not until 1918 he bought his own house in Tibirke Lunde.
Another great artist who lived in Tisvilde for many years was William Scharff. In 1918 he bought a smallholding called ‘Spaanekrogen’ in Tibirke Lunde. To choose a few others, we can mention Joergen Sonne (1801-1890), Niels Bohr (1885-1962), Jakob Gade (1879-1863), and Johannes V. Jensen (1873-1950).
Nordic Sculptor Symposium
In August in Culture Year 2000, ten Nordic sculptors created ten beautiful granite sculptures in the attractive area at the Desertification Monument (‘Sandflugtsmonumentet’) in Tisvilde. These sculptures can now be seen at various locations in the municipality of Helsinge. The artists participating in the Nordic Sculptor Symposium worked every day - irrespective of the weather - on the creation of the large, magnificent sculptures.
The artists stayed at Sankt Helene for the symposium, and we are now able to enjoy their work in our local community.
