Martofte: Discover cycling routes and history

There are several different themes to choose from when planning your trip: cycling, hiking, prehistoric monuments and regional cultural history. The routes vary in mode of transport and character; cultural attractions range from archaeological structures to insights into working life in the countryside. This lets you tailor your stay to your interests and take the museum’s seasonal opening hours into account as a specific planning consideration.

Cycling and hiking on different routes

Cycle Route 42 turns onto Langøvej in Martofte and then continues partly along the coast towards Midskov. For a longer ride, Hindsholm Rundt is another option: the cycle route is about 60 kilometres long and gently undulating. This approximate distance and the described terrain provide an initial guide when choosing a cycling route.

On foot, the Kircherundtur på Hindsholm is a long hiking route that visits five churches on Hindsholm. It is therefore clearly different from the cycling routes: the focus is on a hike linking several churches. The route is considered safe from traffic because a large part of it follows the disused railway line that ran from Odense via Kerteminde to Martofte.

When planning, it is worth distinguishing Cycle Route 42 from Hindsholm Rundt: the former follows a route through Martofte and onward towards Midskov, while the latter is an approximately 60-kilometre, gently undulating ride. The Kircherundtur, in turn, is a long hike to five churches. You can therefore make your initial choice based on the mode of transport, the character of the route and its destination.

Burial mounds and earlier history

Mårhøj, also known as Snavehøjen, is a Neolithic burial mound. Its seven-metre-long passage leads to a chamber made up of 18 supporting stones and seven massive capstones. The dimensions and construction make the monument a notable attraction for anyone interested in prehistoric structures.

Mårhøj/Snavehøjen is considered Denmark’s largest single-chamber burial mound and has been protected since 1888. Martofte is also home to Hesthøj, a large protected passage grave. The two burial mounds offer different ways to explore the prehistoric past: the chamber and passage at Mårhøj are described in more detail, while Hesthøj is identified as a large protected passage grave in Martofte.

Finds of settlements and graves from the Early Iron Age have also been made in the area around Martofte. They represent a further period alongside the Neolithic burial mounds. Together with the monuments described above, they span a broad period from early settlements and burials to the clearly visible burial chambers.

Museum and regional cultural history

The Hindsholm Egnsmuseum mainly displays tools that bear witness to the hard manual labour of the countryside. If you are interested in everyday rural history, this collection offers a different focus from the archaeological monuments. The museum is open during weeks 26 to 32 of the school summer holidays, on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Check these seasonal opening hours before your trip if a visit is part of your plans.

The history of Schelenborg Gods dates back to the 13th century. At that time, the estate was called Eskebjerg. This historical name and its long history add a look at the estate’s past to the archaeological themes.

Hiking and swimming in the wider area

In the wider area around Martofte, Fynshoved offers several hiking routes, including a popular path around the headland. Swimming options also vary by side: on the east side of Fynshoved, you can swim in the Great Belt; on the west side, in Korshavnen. There is a child-friendly sandy beach there with calm water. If this kind of beach is especially important to you, include Korshavnen in your choice; the description of the child-friendly sandy beach and calm water refers to this western side.

This gives you several types of activities to choose from when planning your trip: cycle rides with different route characteristics, a long hiking route to churches, other walking trails at Fynshoved, and swimming spots on its eastern and western sides. The archaeological and cultural-historical sites offer a separate focus. Choose according to the activities and places you want to include in your trip, and take the museum’s stated seasonal opening hours into account.

Discover more destinations: Mesinge, Dalby, Tårup, Midskov, Marslev, Langeskov, Kerteminde, Munkebo

Back to the main travel overview: Kerteminde.