Kalundborg is a city in Zealand, Denmark. You might come here for the medieval city remains, for the spectacular nature of Røsnæs, or because Kalundborg could be on your way from Copenhagen via Samsø to Aarhus.

Understand

The centre of Kalundborg.

Kalundborg is on western Zealand inside Kalundborg Fjord between the two peninsulas Røsnæs and Asnæs. The town has around 17,000 inhabitants.

History

Kalundborg was established in 1170 by Esbern Snare who built the West Castle (only ruins remain) just west of the medieval High Town. During the 13th century, the five-spired Church of Our Lady as well as the medieval High Town were established. The town was important during the next couple of centuries as significant part of the Danish central administration was moved to here. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the downtown was established at the location of the present day major shopping and commercial street, Kordilgade.

Get in

Hærvigsgade

By train

Kalundborg is the terminal station on the Western Zealand train line. The train from Copenhagen leaves approximately once an hour, is 1 hr 30 min to 1 hr 50 min and costs kr 120.

By boat

There are ferries from

• Aarhus (4-6 times each day, fewer on Sa in low season; Travel time 2hr 40min; Adults kr 175, children 4-15 kr 88; Booking +45 7010 1418 ) and from
• Samsø (2-4 times each day; Travel time 1 hr 50 min; Adult kr 84, children 4-15 kr 42; Booking +45 7010 1744 )

By plane

The nearest airport is in Copenhagen (CPH ^IATA).

Get around

A few city buses run up to two times an hour. The city centre is manageable by foot.

See

The High Town

The High Town (Højbyen) was the fortified medieval town, which boundaries can still be recognised even though the wall is not there anymore. Some buildings dating back from the 16th century are still there. Most of the town's historical sights can be found here.

• 1 Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke), Adelgade 19, ☏ +45 5951 0401. Service every Su; classical concerts now and then. Five-towered church built around 1220 by Esbern Snare's daughter, Ingeborg. It is in the centre of the medieval High Town of Kalundborg. This church is unique with its Greek cross outlay (symbolising The Holy Jerusalem) with a tower in each end and a 41-m tower in the middle. In 1827, the middle tower crashed and was rebuilt in 1871. Notice the famous altar tablet from 1650. Free. (updated Oct 2016)
• 2 Kalundborg Museum, Adelgade 23 (next to Church of Our Lady), ☏ +45 5951 2141. Jan-Apr, Sep-Nov: Sa Su public holidays 10:00-16:00; week 7, 8, 42, December: daily 10:00-16:00; May-Aug: daily 10:00-17:00. City museum of historical and cultural development in and around Kalundborg from the oldest times till now in an old farm dating to around 1600. Most famous exhibitions are local clothes exhibition and an exhibition of a Viking settlement excavation. Adult kr 30, child below 18 free. 
• Castle and city wall remains (Below the church to the north and west). During the 12th century, a castle and a wall protecting the castle were built west of the medieval High Town, but the castle and the fortification were given up a couple of centuries later. During the reign of Valdemar Atterdag (1340-1375) the High Town was fortified and the walls stood until the middle of the 17th century. Some ruins of both can still be seen. Free. 
• 3 Former Bishop's Home (Biskopbolig), 6-8 Adelgade (a bit east of the Church of Our Lady). Built in 1450-1480 by the bishop of Roskilde who lived there when visiting the town. From 1854, part of the building was used as town hall and the basement as prison. In 1971, the building was renovated and used for town council meetings. Not open to the public. 
• 4 Former Minister's Home (Præstebolig), 23 Præstegade (next to the Church of Our Lady). Built in the beginning of the 16th century and one of the oldest remaining residential buildings in northern Europe. Was converted to a hospital in 1854. Not open to the public. 

Røsnæs

Røsnæs kirke, Ulstrup

Røsnæs is a 15-km-long peninsula stretching west from Kalundborg. It was shaped by the movement of glaciers during the Ice Age some 15-20,000 years ago.

• Dolmens (Stendysser) (throughout Røsnæs, e.g. one in Kongstrup and one more accessible south of Røsnæsvej just after 231 Røsnæsvej). There are a number of dolmens on Røsnæs. Dolmens are stone age graves comprising of a number of stone blocks. 
• 5 Ulstrup Mill (Ulstrup Mølle), Røsnæsve 365j, Ulstrup (just southwest of Røsnæs Church in Ulstrup Village), ☏ +45 5950 9096, dakj@post10.tele.dk. 10:00-16:00. Dutch gallery mill. The cap of the mill could be turned manually to make the sails face the wind. The mill was built in 1894 where a previous mill had burned down. The mill was in use until 1956 and has been renovated. Free. 
• 6 Røsnæs Church (Røsnæs Kirke), Søbakken 4, Ulstrup, ☏ +45 5950 9019. Built in the 13th century. 
• 7 Røsnæs Harbour (Røsnæs Havn), Nybyvej 100, Ulstrup (follow the signs from Ulstrup (2 km)). Small and very quiet isolated harbour. 
• Røsnæs Entrenchment (Røsnæs Skanse). 
• 8 Røsnæs Lighthouse (Røsnæs Fyrtårn), Røsnæsvej 478 (at the tip of Røsnæs Peninsula). Built in 1844 and rebuilt in 1859. The lighthouse is adjoined with the lighthouse keepers house. The lighthouse is 15-m-high with a rotating lens. Notice the small lighthouse in the water northwest of the tip of Røsnæs. Free to watch from outside, but the lighthouse is not open to the public.  

Galleries

• 9 Gallery Bispegården, 6 Adelgade. 
• Balle, Grete. 
• 10 Keramikstuen, 53 Sandlodsvej, ☏ +45 5950 8719, ia@keramikstuen.dk. Tu-F 13:00-17:00; Sa 10:00-14:00. Beautifully located gallery and shop with art and craftwork, including ceramics, lamps and clothes. 
• Lundbye, J. Th. - tegninger. 
• Lundsdal, Jack. 
• Madsen, Hans Werner. 

Other

• Kaalund Monastery (Kaalund Kloster). Built as a Franciscan monastery in 1239. The monks were kicked out in 1532. The present building is from 1751 and houses municipal administration. 
• 11 Raklev Church (Raklev Kirke). Built in 1547 as one of the first village churches after the reformation. Built by the now converted monks kicked out of Kaalund Monastery a few years earlier. 

Do

Røsnæs

• Røsnæs by bike. Tour Røsnæs by bike. 
• Røsnæs on foot. 

Beaches

• 1 Gisseløre Beach. 
• Eskebjerg Beach. 
• 2 Ulstrup Sønderstrand Beach. 
• Saltbæk Badebro Strand Beach. 

Other

• Harbour. 

Buy

• 1 Kordilgade. 

Eat

• 1 Bistro Bispegaarden, ☏ +45 59522130. 
• 2 Edderfuglen Café og Spisested, 460 Røsnæsvej (Close to the tip of Røsnæs Peninsula), ☏ +45 5952 7273. Easter: daily 1 Apr-14 Jun: F 17:00-21:00, Sa 12:00-21:00, Su 12:00-16:00; 15 Jun-31 Aug: Tu-Su; Sep: F-Su; 12:00-18:00; Oct 11:00-16:00; open all year for groups of 12 to 40 persons. Lunch kr 85-169, dinner main dishes around kr 200. 
• 3 Restaurant Gisseløre, Radiovej 2 (At Gisseløre Beach, next to the Kalundborg longwave towers), ☏ +45 595 0745. Has a great terrace facing south to the beach. Main courses kr 185-225; lunch courses kr 28-98. 
• 4 Ole Lunds Gaard, ☏ +45 59510165. 
• 5 Røsnæs Kro, 350 Røsnæsvej, Ulstrup, ☏ +45 5950 9145. W-F from 15:00, Sa Su from 12:00; closed in the winter season. Serves primarily fast food, coffee and beer. One main course dish available 18:00-20:00, buffet available Su 13:00-17:00 and 16:00-20:00, booking needed. A perfect place to watch the very slow local life. Coffee kr 15, beer from kr 18, main course or buffet around kr 100. 

Drink

Bars

• 1 Kings Pub, Kordilgade 10B, ☏ +45 5951 2526. Frequented by young locals, primarily high school students. 
• 2 Havkatten, Skibbrogade 3, ☏ +45 5951 6330. 
• 3 Lillebælt, Skibbrogade 5, ☏ +45 5951 5810. M-Th 08:00-23:00, F Sa 08:00-02:00, Su 08:00-21:00. 
• 4 Høvlen, Skibbrogade 13, ☏ +45 5951 4767. 

Cafés

• 5 Café Carlzon og Shooters, Kordilgade 52, ☏ +45 5956 0809. 
• 6 Café Le Soleil, Kordilgade 29, ☏ +45 5952 3230. 

Sleep

Budget

Kalundborg town

• 1 Debbies Bed&Breakfast, 114 Hovvejen, ☏ +45 2992 2928, debbies.bb@mail.dk. Rooms with free internet and television. Singles with shared bathroom kr 300; doubles with private bathroom kr 600; triples with private bathroom and kitchen kr 675. 
• 2 Elverdams Camping, 250 Røsnæsvej, ☏ +45 5950 9013. In the middle of Røsnæs Peninsula and an ideal base for exploring Røsnæs, 300 m away from the coast. Beautifully situated and landscaped site. Kitchen, toilet, bath, fireplace, playground and playing field available. kr 50. 
• 3 Holmehuset bed and breakfast, 23 Kåstrup Holmevej, ☏ +45 5950 7452. This bed and breakfast has two doubles with shared facilities. Small kitchen, shared living room with TV and terrace available. One person in double room kr 250, two persons in double room kr 425, breakfast kr 40. 
• 4 Højehus, Kalundborg Bed and Breakfast, 107 Kallerupvej, ☏ +45 5950 8210. Shared facilities. Living rooms with TV as well as a garden are available. kr 200. 
• 5 Kalundborg Youth Hostel (Kalundborg Vandrehjem), 5 Stadion Alle, ☏ +45 5956 1366, fax: +45 5956 4626, kalundborg@danhostel.dk. Part of the Danhostel chain. Large rooms with private bathroom, table and chairs. Shared facilities include Guest kitchen, laundry facilities, TV room, living room, billiards, table tennis, piano, children's playground, outdoor chess and outdoor grill. Dorm kr 180; private room from kr 520; membership card kr 35; breakfast kr 50; lunch box kr 85; bed linen kr 60. 
• 6 Kongsgård Bed&Breakfast, 204 Røsnæsvej, ☏ +45 5950 9775, kongsgaard@mail.dk. Doubles from kr 400. 
• 7 Røsnæs Kro, 350 Røsnæsvej, Ulstrup, ☏ +45 5950 9145. In the middle of the Røsnæs peninsula, a perfect starting point for exploring Røsnæs. Singles kr kr 300, doubles kr 600. 
• 8 Saltbæk Camping, 88 Saltbækvej, ☏ +45 5950 2167. Adult kr 65, child kr 30, hut kr 300. 

Further away

• 9 FDM Camping Bjerge Sydstrand, Osvejen 30, 4480 Store Fuglede, ☏ +45 59597803. 
• 10 Lykkebjerg, Snertinge. 
• Myrehøj Bed&Breakfast. 
• Sejerø Vandrehjem. 
• Ugerløse Motel & Feriecenter. 
• Vesterlyng Camping. 
• Skortskær Bed & Breakfast

Mid-range

Kalundborg town

• 11 Kursuscenter Røsnæs, 60 Klintedalsvej, ☏ +45 5950 8067. Rooms with free internet. Singles without/with bathroom from kr 495/610; doubles without/with bathroom kr 696/836. 

Further away

• 12 Kragerup Gods, Ruds-Vedby. 
• Sejerø Spisehus og Hotel. 
• 13 Skipperkroen, Mullerup Strandvej 19. kr 200 main courses. 

Splurge

• 14 Lerchenborg Bed&Breakfast, ☏ +45 59510500, office@lerchenborg.dk. kr 1500.