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, 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 Human settlement, 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 marketplace, market; this distinguished it from a village or ...
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
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, ...
, 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 fr ...
.
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 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 Uni ...
. 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 ci ...
in Sweden 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 northwes ...
local train
Regional rail, also known as local trains and stopping trains, are passenger rail services that operate between towns and cities. These trains operate with more stops over shorter distances than inter-city rail, but fewer stops and faster serv ...
services to
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 northwes ...
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
The Aarhus Letbane (Aarhus light rail) is a light rail system in the city of Aarhus, Denmark. It is operated by the company Midttrafik. The first line opened in December 2017, but the system is under continuous development and expansion. Service ...
system. The southern part of the town is also served by the railway haltHessel.
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
The Cold War is a term commonly use ...
which lies 20 km to the south-west from Grenaa.
Points of interest
* Grenaa Beach - 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 and Karlby - Fossil rich coastal lime cliffs 8 km north of Grenaa
*
Kattegatcentret
Kattegatcentret (The Kattegat Center) is a public aquarium in Grenå, Denmark. Its name refers to the Kattegat sea.
The mission of Kattegatcentret is to mediate knowledge about the sea to the general public, so more people are able to enjoy, under ...
– 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 anc ...
/ 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
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...
, canal system
* Salt water fishing from the coasts north and south of Grenaa. Such as for sea trout, mackerel place and garfish
*
Randers Regnskov
Randers () is a city in Randers Municipality, Central Denmark Region on the Jutland peninsula. It is Denmark's sixth-largest city, with a population of 62,802 (as of 1 January 2022).Gudenaa, in transparent domes representing different continents. 60 km from Grenaa
*
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 northwes ...
- 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 r ...
, 60 km from Grenaa
*
Fjord og Kystcentret
In physical geography, a fjord or fiord () is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Fjords exist on the coasts of Alaska, Antarctica, British Columbia, Chile, Denmark, Germany, Greenland, the Faroe Isla ...
– visiting centre related to Randers Fjord 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 Randers Fjord
* Herring fishing at Voer in Randers Fjord – seasonal - 45 km from Grenaa
* Kalø Castle - 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, me ...
– 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 centurie ...
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
Skandinavisk Dyrepark (Scandinavian Wildlife Park) is a Danish zoo in Djursland, located in Syddjurs Municipality in Denmark.
Opened for public in 1994, by the name ''Hjortenes verden'' (''World of deer''), later changed to Skandinavisk Dyrepar ...
– 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
Hans Broge (4 December 1822 – 25 March 1908) was a Danish merchant, politician, Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog and recipient of the Danish Medal of Merit. He became one of the most prominent Danish businessmen of his time and helped e ...
(1822–1908) a Danish merchant and politician
* Frits Hartvigson (1841–1919) a Danish pianist and teacher, spent many years in England
* Christian Zacho (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
Julie Rasmine Marie Laurberg (7 September 1856 – 29 June 1925) was an early Danish photographer who, together with Franziska Gad (1873–1921), ran a successful photography business in central Copenhagen.
Early life and education
Born in Grenå ...
(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 (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 severa ...
(1874–1949) a Danish professor at the dept. of animal physiology 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 ( sv, Nobelpriset i fysiologi eller medicin) is awarded yearly by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute, Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute for outstanding discoveries in physiology or ...
in 1920
* Olivia Holm-Møller (1875 in Homå – 1970) a Danish sculptor and painter of richly coloured, almost abstract paintings
*
Gerda Wegener
Gerda Marie Fredrikke Wegener ( Gottlieb; 15 March 1886 – 28 July 1940) was a Danes, Danish illustrator and Painting, painter. Wegener is known for her fashion illustrations and later her paintings that pushed the boundaries of gender and love ...
(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 Moder ...
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 an ...
Peter Koefoed
Peter Koefoed (22 April 1902 – 14 December 1983) was a Danish field hockey player who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics. He was born in Soerabaja, Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ...
(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 from ...
* 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- ...
*
Hans-Henrik Ørsted
Hans-Henrik Ørsted (born 13 December 1954 in Grenå) is a Danish former professional track cyclist and multi-medalist in the Olympics and World Championships at pursuit. He raced in many indoor Six-day racing events in Europe.
He turned profe ...
(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. How ...
See also
*
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, ...
*
Mols
Mols is a small Danish gathering of hilly peninsulas in the southern part of the larger peninsula of Djursland on the east coast of Jutland. The largest peninsulas of Mols comprise Skødshoved to the west, and Helgenæs to the east.
Mols' ...
*
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, me ...
Katholm Castle
Katholm Castle is a manor house located on the Djursland peninsula, six km south of Grenaa, in eastern Denmark. Built in the Renaissance style from 1588 to 1591 and expanded in 1622, it is set on a castle bank in the middle of an artificial lake in ...
Bønnerup Strand
Bønnerup Strand (lit.: Bønnerup Beach) is a village in Norddjurs Municipality, Denmark.
Bønnerup Strand is a fishing village, sprawling inland from the harbour. It is situated at the large shallow Bay of Aalborg in the Kattegat sea. The b ...
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 northwes ...
Randers
Randers () is a city in Randers Municipality, Central Denmark Region on the Jutland peninsula. It is Denmark's sixth-largest city, with a population of 62,802 (as of 1 January 2022).Grenaa Gymnasium & HF
Grenaa Gymnasium is a secondary school in Grenaa, Denmark. The school has three types of education, Gymnasium, HF and IB.
The school comprises two buildings connected by an umbilical. The first – often referred to as the old part &ndash ...