Old inns sitting along the Danish highways are still a common sight in Denmark, and many of the old inns are so called “royal privileged” and where specially appointed by the King of Denmark to take care of people on the road. These inns did have certain fordele, compared to inns, which was not appointed “royal privileged”. It was also decided by law, that there should be an inn every two miles (a Danish mile is about 7 kilometres) along the most important Danish highways.
Many of these inns have disappeared over the years, but some of them are still in business, and the surviving inns represent traditions and a unique part of the Danish food and beverage culture. Some of the old inns are gourmet temples today, while others are holding on to the classic Danish kitchen with good, solid food served in old surroundings full of atmosphere.
Here is a short introduction to the culture of the Danish Inns and the most important inns in Denmark, including chains. We have also written portraits on a few selected inns across Denmark – follow the links in the text and read more about these Danish inns.
Small Danish Hotels
With about 90 members, Small Danish Hotels, is the biggest sammenslutning of inns and classic hotels in Denmark. Many of the members are old “royal privileged” inns in Jutland, including inns like Tambohus Kro and Hvalpsund Færgekro along Limfjorden in North Jutland.
Other members include luxury inns like Christies Sdr. Hostrup Kro and Tyrstrup Kro in Southern Jutland (Danish: Sønderjylland). All members of Small Danish Hotels all guarantee a certain standard in there inns, which includes at least a three star hotel standard or above. But the facilities and historic surroundings of course vary from inn to inn.
Gourmet Inns in Denmark
A few historic inns around Denmark have profiled themselves as gourmet temples during the last 30 to 40 years with different internationally acclaimed chefs in the kitchen. One of the most famous Danish gourmet inns is Falsled Kro on the Southern part of Funen, where unique historic surroundings is combined with gourmet food from the French inspired kitchen.
Among the other acclaimed (and pricy) gourmet inns in Denmark are Henne Kirkeby Kro on the West Coast of Denmark, Munkebo Kro Northeast of Odense on Funen and Molskroen on Djursland in East Jutland.
Inns along Hærvejen
One of the oldest roads in Denmark is Hærvejen, which take an Eastern path up through Jutland from the German border to the old market town of Viborg. The innland route was choosen to avoid crossing streams, creeks and other wet areas. Hærvejen was more or less the only road in Jutland back in the Middle age, mainly used for transportation of cattle from West Jutland to the market towns in the present Germany, which used to be part of Denmark until the Danish-German war in 1864.
Hærvejen does have its own selection of classic inns located along the old road, including inns like Bække Kro, Harresø Kro and Niels Bugges Kro south of Viborg. Another of the famous inns along Hærvejen is Historischer Krug south of Flensburg in the present Germany – an old Danish “royal privileged” inn opened back in time, when the region of Slesvig was still part of Denmark.
By Henrik Lange, Highways-Denmark.com
