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 (topography), summit.
Terminology
The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is universally con ...
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Danish town with a population of 49,747 (1 January 2022).Denmark
)
, song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast")
, song_type = National and royal anthem
, image_map = EU-Denmark.svg
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark
...
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 (170.35 m).
Geography
It lies in the southern part of Skanderborg municipality, between the villages of Riis and Ejer.
At its summit is a 13 m t ...
was measured as the highest point. Following a scientific survey in 2005,
Møllehøj
Møllehøj is the highest natural pointFor comparison, the tallest man-made structure in Denmark is the Tommerup Transmitter, which stands 321m or 1045ft high. in Denmark at .
Geography
Møllehøj is in the Ejerbjerge hills in Skanderborg ...
was established as the highest natural point, at 170.86 m; Himmelbjerget is now ranked fourth-highest behind Møllehøj,
Yding Skovhøj
Yding Skovhøj in Horsens municipality, Jutland is one of Denmark's highest points.
Features
Its height is 172.54 m 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 ...
and Ejer Bavnehøj. However, when it comes to the size of the slope and the
topographical prominence
In topography, prominence (also referred to as autonomous height, relative height, and shoulder drop in US English, and drop or relative height in British English) measures the height of a mountain or hill's summit relative to the lowest contou ...
(aka peak factor), 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 community of people formed on the basis of a combination of shared features such as language, history, ethnicity, culture and/or society. A nation is thus the collective identity of a group of people understood as defined by those ...
. On top of the hill is a 25.1 m tall tower, that was erected in 1875 to honour King
Frederik VII
Frederick VII (Frederik Carl Christian; 6 October 1808 – 15 November 1863) was King of Denmark from 1848 to 1863. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and the last king of Denmark to rule as a ...
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, organisation or other type of Legal entity, entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed.
When ...
in 1849, thereby ending the preceding era of
absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy (or Absolutism as a doctrine) is a form of monarchy in which the monarch rules in their own right or power. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen is by no means limited and has absolute power, though a limited constitut ...
. 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 right of women to vote in elections. Beginning in the start of the 18th century, some people sought to change voting laws to allow women to vote. Liberal political parties would go on to grant women the right to vot ...
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. Steamboats sometimes use the ship prefix, prefix designation SS, S.S. or S/S ...
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 language, Danish for ''The Eurasian Golden Plover, Golden Plover'') is one of the world's oldest operational paddle steamers, built in 1861 by Baumgarten & Burmeister, commissioned by a group of citizens headed by paper man ...
'' ("The Golden Plover"), carries passengers here from the towns of Ry and
Silkeborg
Silkeborg () is a Danish town with a population of 49,747 (1 January 2022).hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
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 language, Danish for ''The Eurasian Golden Plover, Golden Plover'') is one of the world's oldest operational paddle steamers, built in 1861 by Baumgarten & Burmeister, commissioned by a group of citizens headed by paper man ...
in the foreground.
See also
*
Møllehøj
Møllehøj is the highest natural pointFor comparison, the tallest man-made structure in Denmark is the Tommerup Transmitter, which stands 321m or 1045ft high. in Denmark at .
Geography
Møllehøj is in the Ejerbjerge hills in Skanderborg ...
*
List of hills and mountains in Denmark
This is a list of hills and mountains in Denmark.
Hills in Denmark
This table lists only hills in the country of Denmark, excluding Danish territories (Faroe Islands and Greenland). The listing only considers natural formations.
Mountains in D ...