Founded by the German Emperor and King of Prussia Frederick III in 1650, Fredericia is a fortress town on the southeastern part of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula. It’s ringed by historic walls and dotted with centuries-old monuments while it’s also on the doorstep of Skærbæk’s picturesque beach.
Things to do in Fredericia
Beginning at Kongens Port, you can stretch your legs on a stroll around Fredericia’s town walls, which are marked by several old cannons and historical statues. At the main entrance to the town is the Landsoldaten, a statue of a Danish soldier that commemorates the 1849 Battle of Fredericia and is believed to be the oldest monument to the unknown soldier in the world.
Perched atop Fredericia’s walls is Det Hvide Vandtårn, a whitewashed water tower that offers spectacular views across the town. Another tower not to miss is the Gunpowder Tower, which is located on the Lolland Bastion overlooking the Kattegat Strait. Built in 1675, it is the oldest military building in Fredericia and is a copy of a gunpowder tower in Copenhagen’s Citadel.
For a day at the beach, head to nearby Skærbæk to enjoy a beautiful stretch of sand overlooking the Kolding Fjord. It offers scenic views of Denmark’s second-largest island, Funen, and the privately-owned Fænø that lies in the Little Belt strait. Once home to an 18th-century farmhouse, the island now features a modern red-brick building where works by Danish artists are exhibited.
Getting around Fredericia
Fredericia is just over an hour’s drive from Aarhus and 1.5 hours from Aarhus Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Regular trains connect to the Fredericia railway station from Aarhus and Copenhagen while buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Fredericia can easily be explored on foot.