Grenaa (or Grenå) is a Danish town and seaport on the east coast of the

Jutland Jutland ( da, Jylland ; german: Jütland ; ang, Ēota land ), known anciently as the Cimbric or Cimbrian Peninsula ( la, Cimbricus Chersonesus; da, den Kimbriske Halvø, links=no or ; german: Kimbrische Halbinsel, links=no), is a peninsula of ...

ic peninsula. Tourism, education and commerce are important sectors in the economy of Grenaa. It is the only larger town on

Djursland Djursland () is a 44 km × 33 km hilly lowland peninsula in Denmark at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, between Denmark and Sweden in Northern Europe. Djursland protrudes into the Kattegat sea, as part of the larger peninsula of Jutland, ...

. Grenaa is the municipal seat, and the largest town, in

Norddjurs Municipality Norddjurs is a municipality (Danish, '' kommune'') in Region Midtjylland in Denmark. It covers an area of 723.15 km² and has a population of 37,839 (1 April 2014). On 1 January 2007 Norddjurs municipality was created as the result of ''Kom ...

, which covers the northern half of Djursland.

History

Grenaa was first mentioned in 1231. It was granted the status of a

market town A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or city. In Britain, small rural ...

in 1445.

Economy

Grenaa has a lingering production industry just as in most of the western world. Development of tourism and educational institutions is sought to play a larger role for Grenaa in the future. The 5 km sandy Grenaa Beach is significant for tourism, with a hinterland of summer cottages, including many rentals. Grenaa is a regional shopping centre for central-eastern

, an about 40 km x 40 km peninsula, protruding into the sea, between Denmark and Sweden at the entrance to the

Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain. The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...

Tourism

With 14.601 (2014) inhabitants Grenaa is also the largest town on the c. 40 km x 40 km peninsula, Djursland, where coastal tourism is important. Djursland has 22 sandy beaches along the three-sided 260 km coastline, with in the order of 7.000 summer-, and out of season-, rentals, primarily close to the coast and beaches.

Grenaa Beach Sandy Grenaa Beach on Djursland's east coast – in eastern Jutland, Denmark, at the entrance to the Baltic Sea – starts at Grenaa Marina, and runs south for 6 km. The last 1.5 km are seldom visited, ending at the cape of Havknude. He ...

can be seen as the best of the beaches on Djursland, as it was elected as one of the two best beaches in Denmark in 2006. All coastlines in Denmark are accessible to the public by law, contributing to making the walkable and unspoilt coastlines of Djursland an asset for Grenaa's tourism.

Climate

The climate is coastal temperate, influenced by the

Gulf Stream The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension the North Atlantic Drift, is a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows through the Straits of Florida and up the eastern coastline of the Unit ...

. Westerly and south-westerly winds are common. The yearly precipitation is . The average summer temperature is . The coldest month is January with an average temperature of .

Demographics

The geographical region, Djursland, where Grenaa is situated on the east coast, has an average population density of 42 inhabitants per square km, as compared to 407 for neighboring England and 230 for Germany. This, combined with the long coastlines, means that it seldom gets crowded on the coast and beaches. Something that also applies to the geologically varied often roling-hill country-side and farmland of Djursland, of which a bit more than 10% is forest.

Transport

Grenaa has a commercial seaport that has been expanded in recent years. The town is connected by ferry to

Halmstad Halmstad () is a port, university, industrial and recreational city at the mouth of the Nissan river, in the province of Halland on the Swedish west coast. Halmstad is the seat of Halmstad Municipality and the capital of Halland County. The ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic countries, Nordic c ...

and the Danish island of Anholt. The town is also connected by railway to Denmark's second largest city,

Aarhus Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and approximately northwe ...

, 60 km to the south-east, and is served by

Grenaa railway station Grenaa station ( da, Grenaa Banegård) is a railway station serving the town and seaport of Grenaa on the Djursland peninsula in East Jutland, Denmark. The station is the northeastern terminus of the Grenaa railway line from Aarhus to Grenaa. T ...

, terminus of the Aarhus-Grenaa railway line. The station offers direct local train services to

and

Odder Odder is a town in Jutland, Denmark. The town is the seat of Odder municipality, and is the biggest town in the municipality. It is located 20 km south of Aarhus and 16 km south-east of Skanderborg. Odder is part of Business Region Aarhus, and ...

as part of the Aarhus Light Rail system. The southern part of the town is also served by the

railway halt A train station, railway station, railroad station or depot is a railway facility where trains stop to load or unload passengers, freight or both. It generally consists of at least one platform, one track and a station building providing suc ...

Hessel. The nearest airport with scheduled national and international flights is

Aarhus Airport Aarhus Airport is a civilian airport located northeast of Aarhus, Denmark. History The airfield was established in 1943 by German occupying forces in World War II and was later used as a Cold War military base for the Danish and other alli ...

which lies 20 km to the south-west from Grenaa.

Points of interest

- 5 km of sandy beach starting at Grenaa Marina. Nominated as one of 2 best Danish beaches in 2006 * Walks and hiking – North and south along the coastline from Grenaa, and along the other varied and accessible 260 km coastline of Djursland * Fishing and diving - from Grenaa Beach and east and south of Grenaa along the 50 km east coast of Djursland *

Cliffs of Sangstrup The Cliffs of Sangstrup and Karlby in Denmark, Northern Europe, at the entrance to the Baltic Sea, are two, up to 17 meters tall, and 5 km long coastal limestone cliffs originating from a 65-million-year-old coral reef in a prehistoric and t ...

and Karlby - Fossil rich coastal lime cliffs 8 km north of Grenaa * Kattegatcentret – Aquarium by the Sea in Grenaa with large sharks and a focus on Nordic salt water fish. 250 species of marine creatures from around the world, including seals. * Grenaa Marina - marine environment with cafes, etc. * Djurslands Museum & Danish Fisheries Museum in Grenaa * Baunhøj Mill, View overlooking Grenaa and countryside * Mushroom picking in the forests and non-farmed areas of Djursland from August, through autumn until first frost. Such as in, Plantagen, a wood starting at the southern end of Grenaa *

Dansk Motor- og Maskinsamling Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

/ The Machine Collection with the largest collection of historical stationary engines in Northern Europe going back to 1860. Restored and functioning. 2 km from Grenaa * Sea trout and other fresh water fishing in Gren å, running through Grenaa, and in the adjoining, Sound of Kolind, canal system * Salt water fishing from the coasts north and south of Grenaa. Such as for sea trout, mackerel place and garfish * Randers Regnskov – Zoo - Rain forest zoo by the river, Gudenaa, in transparent domes representing different continents. 60 km from Grenaa *

- Denmark's second largest town, with several international attractions, such as, The Old Town,

Den gamle By Den Gamle By, or The Old Town in English, is an open-air town museum located in the Aarhus Botanical Gardens, in central Aarhus, Denmark. In 1914, the museum opened as the world's first open-air museum of its kind, concentrating on town culture ...

, 60 km from Grenaa * Fjord og Kystcentret – visiting centre related to

Randers Fjord Randers Fjord is a long Danish fjord in Northern Europe leading to the sea of Kattegat, between Denmark and Sweden. The fjord is the outlet from Denmark's longest river, Gudenå. The upper , starting at the town Randers, looks more like a broa ...

in Voer 45 km from Grenaa – focus on activities with regards to fish, fishing and shore biology, exhibits, boat rentals, and guided tours. Mini car ferry across

* Herring fishing at Voer in Randers Fjord – seasonal - 45 km from Grenaa *

Kalø Castle Kalø Castle ( da, Kalø Slot) is a ruined castle located in eastern Jutland, in Denmark, 20 km from the city of Aarhus within Mols Bjerge National Park. History The castle was constructed in 1313 by the Danish king Erik Menved (Erik VI). ...

- ruined castle on a peninsula with bights, inlets on southern Djursland 35 km from Grenaa *

Mols Bjerge National Park Mols Bjerge National Park or Nationalpark Mols Bjerge is a Danish national park in the area known as ''Mols Bjerge'' (Mols Hills, lit.: Mols Mountains) in Syddjurs Municipality, Central Jutland, inaugurated on 29 August 2009. The protected area, ...

– Hilly ice age like steppe landscape – walks, sightseeing drives, and horseback riding, on southern Djursland 30 km south of Grenaa * Djurslands medieval country churches. Thorsager church is the only

round church A round church is a church construction with a completely circular plan. There are many Nordic round churches in Sweden and Denmark (notably the island of Bornholm); round churches were popular in Scandinavia in the 11th and early 12th centuries ...

in Jutland. Udby church by Randers Fjord is a picturesque navigation mark for incoming ships *Kalø Vintage Car Rally (Tirsdagstræf) – Popular gatherings for motor enthusiasts, every Tuesday afternoon and evening except in winter, close to Kalø Castle Ruin on southern Djursland, 32 km from Grenaa * Djurs Sommerland - Amusement park. The largest attraction on Djursland with regards to number of visitors. 22 km from Grenaa *The Agricultural Museum, Landbrugsmuseet, Farmlife through the times. Extensive historical vegetable gardens and fruit orchards at Gl. Estrup Castle, by the town, Auning, 35 km from Grenaa *The Manor Museum, Herregårdsmuseet, at Gl. Estrup Castle, by the town, Auning, 35 km from Grenaa * Katholm Castle, 6 km south of Grenaa * Rosenholm Castle - by Hornslet, plus other castles and manor houses on Djursland * Golf - Lübker Golf Resort by Nimtofte, also other golfing and golf-resorts such as by Grenaa-, Ebeltoft and Uggelbølle * Munkholm Zoo – Zoo for families with small children. Including friendly animals, and no long walks. 14 km from Grenaa * Ree Safari Park – Zoo - In hills including savanna-like landscapes. Also large animals. 22 km from Grenaa * Skandinavisk Dyrepark – Zoo - Park with extensive Nordic wildlife including brown- and polar bears. 22 km from Grenaa * Glasmuseet, Ebeltoft. Modern international glass art and craftsmanship. Also local glass-craft workshops in the Ebeltoft-area. 31 km from Grenaa * , Ebeltoft – One of the world's largest wooden warships, restoration for 15 million euros completed in 1998. 31 km from Grenaa File:Grenå å igennem Grenå.jpg, The river Gren Å runs through Grenaa File:Grenå Strand vinter 1.jpg, Winter kite-surfing at Grenaa Beach

Notable people

* Hans Broge (1822–1908) a Danish merchant and politician * Frits Hartvigson (1841–1919) a Danish pianist and teacher, spent many years in England *

Christian Zacho Peter Mørch Christian Zacho, usually known as Christian Zacho, (31 March 1843, in Grenå – 19 March 1913, in Hellerup) was a Denmark, Danish landscape painter who is remembered for his idyllic scenes of Danish beech woods. Early life His edu ...

(1843–1913) a Danish landscape painter of Danish beech woods * Ludvig Kabell (1853 in Vejlby - 1902) a Danish landscape painter *

Hans Peter Mareus Neilsen Gammel Hans Peter Mareus Neilsen Gammel (September 24, 1854 – February 11, 1931) was an author and bookseller. He served as editor and publisher of a series of books reporting Texas legislation enacted by each congressional and legislative session. His ...

(1854-1931) emigrated to Texas c.1880, an author on the laws of Texas and a bookseller * Julie Laurberg (1856–1925) an early Danish photographer, also active in women's rights * Peder Mørk Mønsted (1859 in Balle Mølle – 1941) a Danish realist painter of landscapes *

Achton Friis Achton Friis (5 September 1871 – 17 December 1939) was a Danish illustrator, painter and writer. He participated in the Denmark Expedition to Northeast Greenland in 1906–1908, creating a large number of works in the process, both landscap ...

(1871 in Trustrup – 1939) a Danish illustrator, painter, writer and explorer *

August Krogh Schack August Steenberg Krogh (15 November 1874 – 13 September 1949) was a Danish professor at the department of zoophysiology at the University of Copenhagen from 1916 to 1945. He contributed a number of fundamental discoveries within several ...

(1874–1949) a Danish professor at the dept. of

animal physiology Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical a ...

at the

University of Copenhagen The University of Copenhagen ( da, Københavns Universitet, KU) is a prestigious public university, public research university in Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Founded in 1479, the University of Copenhagen is the second-oldest university in ...

; awarded the

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or medicine. The Nobel Prize is not a single prize, but five separate prizes that, accordi ...

in 1920 * Olivia Holm-Møller (1875 in Homå – 1970) a Danish sculptor and painter of richly coloured, almost abstract paintings * Gerda Wegener (1886 in Hammelev – 1940) a Danish illustrator and painter of

art nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Modern ...

and later

art deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unit ...

images of fashionable women * Søren Krarup (born 1937) a Danish pastor, writer, politician, member of the

Folketing The Folketing ( da, Folketinget, ; ), also known as the Parliament of Denmark or the Danish Parliament in English, is the unicameral national legislature ( parliament) of the Kingdom of Denmark—Denmark proper together with the Faroe Islands ...

2001-11 *

Rebekka Mathew Rebekka Sofiá Mathew (born 25 September 1986) is a former child star and was half of the Faroese-Danish pop duo, Creamy. The other half of the duo was Rannva Joensen. She is the sister of singers Simon Mathew and Sabina Mathew. In 2007 she re ...

(born 1986) former child star, half of the Faroese pop duo

Creamy Creamy were a Faroese-Danish teen-pop duo, composed of Rebekka Mathew and Rannva Joensen. Their 1999 debut album, ''Creamy'', made when the pair were just thirteen years of age, was composed of euro-pop versions of children’s songs. In 200 ...

IMDb Database
retrieved 25 April 2020

Sport

* Peter Koefoed (1902 – 1983 in Grenaa) a Danish field hockey player, competed in the

1928 Summer Olympics The 1928 Summer Olympics ( nl, Olympische Zomerspelen 1928), officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad ( nl, Spelen van de IXe Olympiade) and commonly known as Amsterdam 1928, was an international multi-sport event that was celebrated fro ...

* Caspar Schrøder (1905 in Auning – 1989) a Danish fencer, competed at the

1936 Summer Olympics The 1936 Summer Olympics (German: ''Olympische Sommerspiele 1936''), officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad (German: ''Spiele der XI. Olympiade'') and commonly known as Berlin 1936 or the Nazi Olympics, were an international multi-s ...

* Hans-Henrik Ørsted (born 1954) a Danish former professional track cyclist, team bronze medallist at the

1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...

* Steffen Rasmussen (born 1982 in Stenvad) a football goalkeeper with 404 caps with

AGF Aarhus Aarhus Gymnastikforening (; commonly known as AGF ), is a professional sports club based in Aarhus, Jutland, Denmark. Founded in 1880, it is one of the oldest clubs in the country and gymnastics and fencing are featured as its main sports. Howe ...

References

External links

Official municipality website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Grena Municipal seats of the Central Denmark Region Municipal seats of Denmark Cities and towns in the Central Denmark Region Port cities and towns in Denmark Norddjurs Municipality Tourist attractions in Denmark Tourist attractions in the Central Denmark Region Beaches of Denmark