1.4 kmSkibelund Krat
A strong historical companion to Kongeåen, with memorial stones, borderland history, and a short walking distance.
The shelter site by Frihedsbroen is located where Frihedsvej crosses the Kongeå River, and where the Kongeå Trail meets the Hærvejen hiking and cycling route. This makes the site a natural resting place for those arriving with a backpack, bicycle, or canoe, but also for a short break by the river.
The site is located just south of the bridge and close to the parking area. By the water there is a canoe landing place, so a trip on the Kongeå River can begin or end here without a major detour from the route.
From the site you can follow a marked circular route west along the Kongeå River and through the river valley landscape. The short trip begins and ends at the shelter site, where a digital information screen tells about the nature and history of the Kongeå River.
The Kongeå Trail is not a broad promenade, but a primitive and clearly marked footpath along the river. Frihedsbroen therefore serves both as a pause point and as a place where longer hikes can be divided into sections.
At Frihedsbroen, history is not hidden away in a display case. After 1864, the Danish-German border ran along this stretch by the Kongeå River, and the bridge was used by Danish-minded North Schleswigers on their way to meetings in Skibelund Krat. North of the bridge lies Huset Friheden, which is private and can only be viewed from the road; the name still remains associated with the place.
A few meters north of the Konge River lies House of Freedom, built in 1870 by Hans Diderik Kloppenborg. He lived south of the river, on the German side after 1864, but built the house on Danish soil as a refuge beyond the reach of the Prussian authorities.
The house is private and can only be seen from the road. Look for the boulder walls, the red-and-white doors and windows, and the panel above the front door with the Dannebrog and initials.
