Himmelbjerget ("The Sky Mountain" or "The Mountain of Heaven") is a
hill
A hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain. It often has a distinct summit, and is usually applied to peaks which are above elevation compared to the relative landmass, though not as prominent as Mountain, mountains. Hills ...
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Denmark, Danish town with a population of 52,571 (1 January 2025).Denmark
Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...
in the area known as
Søhøjlandet
Søhøjlandet (English: ''The Lake-highland'') is the highest lying region in Denmark and at the same time, it has the highest density of lakes.Ejer Bavnehøj
Ejer Bavnehøj (also spelled Ejer Baunehøj) is the third-highest natural point in Denmark, at above sea level.
Geography
Ejer Bavnehøj lies in the southern part of Skanderborg municipality, between the villages of Riis and Ejer. At its su ...
was measured as the highest point. Following a scientific survey in 2005,
Møllehøj
Møllehøj () is the highest natural point in Metropolitan Denmark at .For comparison, the tallest man-made structure in Denmark is the Tommerup Transmitter, which stands 321 m, or 1045 ft, high.
Geography
Møllehøj is in the Ejerbjerge hi ...
was established as the highest natural point, at 170.86 m. Himmelbjerget is now ranked eighth-highest hill behind Møllehøj,
Yding Skovhøj
Yding Skovhøj in Horsens municipality, Jutland is one of Denmark's highest points.
Features
Its height is above sea level when the height of one of the Bronze Age burial mounds built on the top of the hill is included. If these man-made struct ...
, Ejer Bavnehøj and more. However, when it comes to the size of the slope, Himmelbjerget is much more impressive than the other three: there is a height difference of 121 m from the lake below to the top of the hill, which is remarkable by Danish standards. An amusing detail is the sign "to the boat" at the peak.
Historic importance
Himmelbjerget grew to fame in Denmark during the 19th century, as people gathered here to admire the magnificent views and celebrate the birth of the Danish
nation
A nation is a type of social organization where a collective Identity (social science), identity, a national identity, has emerged from a combination of shared features across a given population, such as language, history, ethnicity, culture, t ...
. On top of the hill is a 25.1 m tall tower, that was erected in 1875 to honour King Frederik VII and his role in giving the Danish people the country's first
constitution
A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed.
When these pri ...
in 1849, thereby ending the preceding era of absolute monarchy. Close to the top are more monuments, most honouring individuals, but also one to commemorate
women's right to vote
Women's suffrage is the women's rights, right of women to Suffrage, vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffra ...
in 1915.
In those days, several
steamboat
A steamboat is a boat that is marine propulsion, propelled primarily by marine steam engine, steam power, typically driving propellers or Paddle steamer, paddlewheels. The term ''steamboat'' is used to refer to small steam-powered vessels worki ...
s began ferrying visitors back and forth to Himmelbjerget, from various destinations across Julsø and The Silkeborg Lakes. This tradition is still alive and the historic
steamship
A steamship, often referred to as a steamer, is a type of steam-powered vessel, typically ocean-faring and seaworthy, that is propelled by one or more steam engines that typically move (turn) propellers or paddlewheels. The first steamships ...
''
Hjejlen
SS ''Hjejlen'' ( Danish for ''The Golden Plover'') is the world's oldest coal burning operational paddle steamer, built in 1861 by Baumgarten & Burmeister, commissioned by a group of citizens headed by paper manufacturer Michael Drewsen. She i ...
'' ("The Golden Plover"), carries passengers here from the towns of Ry and
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Denmark, Danish town with a population of 52,571 (1 January 2025).hiking
A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time.
"Hi ...
routes in the larger area of
Søhøjlandet
Søhøjlandet (English: ''The Lake-highland'') is the highest lying region in Denmark and at the same time, it has the highest density of lakes.Himmelbjerget, Sletten and Slåensø The Nature Agency. A pamphlet on hiking in the area.
File:Himmerbjerget ved Silkeborg.JPG, The red brick tower on the hill top.
Image:Lake Julsø from Himmelbjerget 2017-08-19 1.jpg, The view from Himmelbjerget to Julsø.
Image:Himmelbjerget 2005 (edit).jpg, Himmelbjerget with the steam ship
Hjejlen
SS ''Hjejlen'' ( Danish for ''The Golden Plover'') is the world's oldest coal burning operational paddle steamer, built in 1861 by Baumgarten & Burmeister, commissioned by a group of citizens headed by paper manufacturer Michael Drewsen. She i ...
in the foreground.
See also
*
Møllehøj
Møllehøj () is the highest natural point in Metropolitan Denmark at .For comparison, the tallest man-made structure in Denmark is the Tommerup Transmitter, which stands 321 m, or 1045 ft, high.
Geography
Møllehøj is in the Ejerbjerge hi ...