Brenderup: Forest Landscape and Cultural Traces

Brenderup originated historically as a settlement founded by people from Ellerup. Several themes may be considered when planning your trip: the landscape of Brenderup Vænge, historical traces near Gudme and Gudbjerg, and a section of the Øhavsstien between Svendborg, Broholm and Lundeborg. These themes represent different scales—from an individual natural feature to archaeological evidence and a stretch of trail. You can decide what to focus on, depending on whether you would like to include mainly forest, history or a longer route in your travel plans.

Forest Landscape and Protected Oak

In Brenderup Vænge, a protection order safeguards an oak tree; it dates from 14 May 1948. The oak provides a specific connection with nature, while the forest describes the landscape on a broader scale. Brenderup Vænge is part of the wooded western side of the Gudbjerg-Gudme-Hesselager area and covers 156 hectares. The terrain is flat to gently rolling. This makes it possible to consider an individual protected natural feature and an extensive forest landscape as two distinct aspects. For your choice of trip, this means that an interest in nature may focus on the oak’s special protection or on the size and terrain of the forest area.

Local History and Iron Age Halls

Brenderup’s origins as a settlement founded by people from Ellerup add the story of the town’s beginnings to the landscape themes. At Gudmekongens Hal in Gudme, traces of two large Iron Age halls have been found. They have been interpreted as Gudme Prinsens Sal and its Gudesal. Today, concrete pillars mark the two halls; their dimensions convey an impression of their former size. Archaeological traces, present-day markers and an interpretation handed down through time come together here.

Stone Age Finds and Long Barrows

The Oldsagssamlingen ved Broholm Slot comprises around 70,000 flint finds, as well as other Stone Age finds from the area around Broholm. The approximate number conveys the scale of the collection. Unlike the traces of the Iron Age halls at Gudme, the focus here is on Stone Age finds. Comparing the two cultural themes highlights their different periods and types of evidence: traces of halls on the one hand, and objects in the collection on the other.

Gudbjerg mindelund contains a group of four long barrows measuring 106, 41, 19 and 117 metres in length. The shortest and longest structures differ by 98 metres; in addition to the number four, this range provides another measure of the group’s scale.

The Øhavsstien Section

The Svendborg–Broholm–Lundeborg section of the Øhavsstien is 35 kilometres long. It passes through the Vejstrup Ådal and then through agricultural landscape to Broholm. Two landscape features are named in sequence: first the valley, then land shaped by agriculture. Two specific points of reference complement each other for planning your trip: the length of the route and the landscape changes along it. If a longer route is among your interests, you can assess this section by its distance and course.

For the broader travel overview: Gudbjerg Sydfyn.