Discover Padborg: History, Hiking Trails and Motorsport

Places of cultural and historical interest, marked trails and motorsport offer different ways to shape your trip to Padborg. You can explore the history of Frøslevlejren and Danish border and customs services, compare routes by length, or include a motorsport experience.

Frøslevlejren and Border History

The Frøslevlejren Museum tells the story of Frøslevlejren in 1944–45 and Faarhuslejren from 1945 to 1949 through objects and personal accounts. The exhibition is spread across three buildings. The barracks at Frøslevlejren also house several exhibitions on the site’s history, ranging from the German occupation during the Second World War to the present day.

A public guided tour follows the prisoners’ route and shares true personal stories at the places where they unfolded. The museum’s opening arrangements vary by season, so check the latest dates and times before your trip. Another option is a 35-minute puzzle activity in which participants try to escape from the camp commandant’s office. Check availability again before you arrive.

The Told- og Grænsemuseet covers 1,000 years of Danish border and customs history. Topics include the ox trade, plough tax, smuggled goods and border trade. For visitors seeking a more in-depth introduction, the museum offers guided tours daily; check the current arrangements before your trip. Oldemorstoft has been known since the 15th century and has served over the course of its history as an inn, a royal residence and the seat of the county governor.

Hiking Trails and Landscape

The Told- og Grænsemuseet is a natural starting point for a hike along the local section of the Hærvejen. Another route, the Gendarmstien, passes right in front of the museum at Oldemorstoft. It begins at the Danish-German border near Padborg and runs through Southern Jutland to Skovby on Als. Along the way, it passes through forests, marshes and meadows. On 5 May 2015, it was certified as a “Leading Quality Trail – Best of Europe”, making it Denmark’s first European-quality hiking trail.

The Hærvejsrute runs directly through Frøslevlejren and the distinctive dune landscape of Frøslev Plantage. The plantation has three marked trails: Frøslevlejren rundt is 2.2 kilometres long, the Frøslev-Lyngpolde route is 5.5 kilometres, and Sandgårdturen is 3.7 kilometres. The stated distances offer a practical basis for comparing the routes.

The landscape includes grassy and heather-covered dunes, coniferous and deciduous woodland of different ages and types, firebreaks and small wetlands. The plantation also provides a habitat for red deer, fallow deer, roe deer, foxes, badgers and hares. Nearby Bov Kirke has two memorial stones at the end of the chancel; the church is open to visitors.

Motorsport and Practical Information

Padborg Park offers a different kind of activity: its racetrack is 2,150 metres long and the second-longest in Denmark. Visitors can choose to drive a sports car themselves or experience the ride in a car driven by an instructor. Check availability before booking.

Frøslev Plantage is about three kilometres from Padborg railway station. Bus route 661 stops at Frøslevlejren, but runs only on school days. Check the current timetable before travelling.

Discover more destinations: Søttrup, Bajstrup, Hellevad, Felsted, Genner Strand, Løjt Kirkeby, Bylderup-Bov, Varnæs.

For the wider travel overview: Aabenraa Municipality.