This Danish city of 50,000 people has Viking-era roots, a former fortress, and active cycling culture. Local music venues and theatres add to its cultural appeal.
Horsens, a city in eastern Jutland, has transformed its former state prison into FÆNGSLET, where you can attend concerts by international stars or spend a night in a converted cell. Walk through the city center to discover street murals by artists like Christian Lemmerz, explore Denmark's only Industrial Museum, or join thousands of participants at the annual Medieval Festival. Take the bicycle ferry to the islands of Alrø and Hjarnø in Horsens Fjord, where Viking shipwrecks rest beneath the waters.
Cultural Events at FÆNGSLET
Since 2006, concerts by Metallica, Madonna, and Paul McCartney have filled the halls of the former Horsens State Prison, now called FÆNGSLET. Take guided tours through cell blocks to learn about daily prison life, explore the crime museum's exhibits, or book an overnight stay in a converted prison cell at the SleepIn hotel. The original thick stone walls and iron bars remain intact throughout the building.
Museums and Art Scene
At the Industrial Museum, you'll walk through recreated workshops with functioning machinery from different eras and see how Danish workers lived in period-accurate apartments. The Horsens Art Museum displays over 100 works by local artist Michael Kvium. Walk through the city streets to spot forty murals and sculptures, including works by Christian Lemmerz and Maria Rubinke. Visit Art'M gallery's 1,800 square meters of exhibition space to see contemporary Danish and international artists.
Medieval Festival and Crime Fiction Events
The European Medieval Festival transforms the city center during the last weekend of August. Watch blacksmiths forge iron tools, learn traditional rope making, listen to medieval musicians, and see knights demonstrate combat techniques. Each March, crime fiction authors gather in Horsens for readings and book signings at venues across the city.
Horsens Fjord and Islands
Take the bicycle ferry between March and October to explore Alrø and Hjarnø islands in Horsens Fjord, which stretches from the city harbor to Gyllingnæs and Snaptun. Divers have discovered multiple Viking Age shipwrecks in these waters, and the islands support populations of seabirds and seals. Walk along the Langelinie promenade near the city center to access a sandy beach and grass areas.
Shopping and City Center
Walk down Søndergade, the main pedestrian street, to browse more than 150 shops housed in buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s. The recently renovated Torvet square hosts markets and events on weekends and holidays. Find additional shops and restaurants at the Bytorv Horsens shopping center.
