Oksbøl: Forest, Village History and Church Routes

Oksbøl on Nordals combines woodland scenery with a rich village history and several historical points of interest. The landscape is not the only reason to choose this destination: surviving farmsteads, a Romanesque church and traces of a former narrow-gauge railway also shape the area. If you are looking for hotels in Oksbøl, the following topics may help you see how the area matches your travel interests.

Forest and landscape

Oksbøl Skov is a forest area on Nordals between Oksbøl, Havnbjerg and Nordborg. The natural areas cover 187 hectares, including about 120 hectares of planted forest. The rest consists of open grazing land and wetlands. This mix sets the natural area apart from a continuous forest and makes the open areas an integral part of the landscape. The newly established Oksbøl Skov was planted in 2018.

Village layout and historic farms

Oksbøl has preserved its original village layout and road network. Before the land reforms around 1770, there were twelve farms in the village; nine are still at their original sites. The history of the farms can therefore be traced through specific locations. Dominicussens Gård is a farm of the “Kroggård” type and is considered highly worthy of preservation. Anyone interested in rural architecture and settlement history can consider both the locations of the farmsteads and how this farm is classified.

Church and traces of the narrow-gauge railway

Oksbøl Kirke adds a place of worship to the area’s history. The whitewashed Romanesque fieldstone church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and dates from the late 12th century. Traces of the former Amtsbanen E narrow-gauge railway can also be seen in the northern part of the village. Oksbøl thus brings together a range of historical themes: the development of farmsteads, a medieval church building and visible remains of a former railway. The church is of particular interest to travellers interested in religious architecture; the railway traces add another dimension to the area’s history.

Church route and horseback ride on Nord-Als

On Nordals, the Nordals Church Routes connect five churches via existing paths. The total route is about 20 kilometres long and divided into four stages of varying lengths. Experienced hikers can complete the entire route in one day. Cycling is possible on most sections; in some places, you may need to push your bike. When planning, note that the one-day estimate specifically applies to experienced hikers and that cyclists should allow for the possibility of pushing their bikes in some places.

Another activity is a leisurely horseback ride on Nord-Als. It takes about 75 minutes and passes through part of Nordals Nature Park; the riding trails run through the newly established Oksbøl Skov. Ponies are available as well as large horses, so the whole family can take part. Your day plan can therefore include two activities with different time frames: about 75 minutes for the horseback ride and one day for experienced hikers completing the entire church route.

Discover more destinations: Skovbyballe, Mjels, Sydals, Fynshav, Havnbjerg, Gråsten, Høruphav, Guderup.

For the broader travel overview: Sønderborg Municipality.