Gråsten

Gråsten is an active trading town with about 4,200 inhabitants, situated by the fjord surrounded by beautiful woodland. The town is home to the royal family's summer residence and is known as the town of the national apple.

The town's main attraction is Gråsten Castle and Castle Gardens, which is used each year by the royal family as a summer residence. When the royal family visits in the summer, you can experience a parade and changing of the guard, where they march through the town with flutes and drums. On Fridays, when HRH Queen Margrethe II is staying at the palace, you can also enjoy a small concert in the palace courtyard after the changing of the guard.

Denmark's national apple, the "Gråsten apple", was brought to the city by Count Frederik Ahlefeldt the Younger (1662-1708), who brought the tree home after a journey south. The tree was cared for in the palace garden's nursery and given the name Gråsten apple tree. Seedlings were cut from the mother plant and sold, and soon the Gråsten apple tree was grown in many places. Unfortunately, the original tree fell in the storm of 1999, but there are still grafted trees in the garden that are over 80 years old.

On the outskirts of Gråsten is Papirmuseets By, a 800m2 shop that houses a world of paper. The shop is laid out like a small town with streets, houses, a small square and a café. Here you can shop, get lots of inspiration and new ideas, learn exciting techniques and on the first floor you can visit "The Quite Small Paper Museum" and learn about paper from both past and present.

If you want to feel the wings of history, take a trip to the Dybbøl Banke History Centre, where you can become part of one of the most exciting chapters in Danish history. Join the war of 1864 and see the cannons being fired with a deafening bang, you can try to move a ton heavy fortress cannon, cast wrought iron balls at the blacksmith, write letters with pen and ink and not least have fun making pancakes over the fire.

The area around Gråsten offers a versatile nature. In the Gråsten Forests you will find many wonderful nature experiences, whether you are walking, cycling or on horseback. The landscape is characterised by deep water valleys from the Ice Age, and there are elevation differences of 45 metres. You can also take the children on a real treasure hunt in the forests around Gråsten. According to legend, Pirate Alf lived in the Gråsten Forests and hid his treasure there. You can join a guided treasure hunt in the footsteps of Pirate Alf. The tour includes places in the forest named after Alf, Alf's Spring, Alf's Cave and Alf's Grave.

You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Gråsten Forests and stop at the lakes named after Queen Ingrid and the princesses. You can also visit Kværs Hede which is an old water retreat that has been stopped by planting. The area consists mostly of conifers and heather, and has interesting plant and animal life.

Gråsten offers many exciting experiences for the whole family, so pack the car and go on a mini holiday in the national apple city.