SOUTHERN JUTLAND

Flat, open land, deep inlets

Human settlements in Southern Jutland lean east. Here, the varied moraine formations from the most recent ice age have created a landscape characterized by fertile soil, soft rolling hills and deep inlets –attractive and fascinating. The land is heavily settled and cultivated but retains green and blue features in the form of woods, lakes and sea.

To the west lies the Wadden Sea and flat, open terrain. A vast, level landscape with dikes to protect it from the sometimes intense weather. Innovative architectural structures at the Wadden Sea Centre and Tirpitz Museum provide insight into these unique natural landscapes and history.

The latter museum is based on the historical Tirpitz bunker from WWII. Today, it stands as an important historical monument for the Atlantic Wall and the tragedies of the war. This sparsely built-up landscape is also home to Denmark’s oldest urban settlement, Ribe.

Kings, merchants and Moravian Brethren

Ever since the eighth century, Ribe in the western part of Southern Jutland has been a port for ships from the North Sea and hence an important trading centre. During the 10th century, the earliest Christian monarchy in Denmark was based in the town of Jelling on the Jutland ridge, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Subsequent kings built castles and fortresses in the Southern Jutland towns of Kolding, Sønderborg and Haderslev.

The market towns in Southern Jutland emerged after the 13th century as bay-side towns with ease of access from the sea connected to landbased trade routes that crossed the inlets. The town of Fredericia founded in 1650 stands out by being established as a fortified town; one of the best-preserved in all of Northern Europe.

Christiansfeld was founded during the 1770s as a model town by the Moravian Brethren, a Protestant reform movement. The town centre is exceptionally well-preserved and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The area of North Schleswig south of Kolding was ruled by Prussia from 1864 to 1920. Several towns in this region flourished due to their significance as border towns and many of the buildings are in a German style.

During the industrial era, towns such as Esbjerg, Billund and Vojens emerged around or closely associated with enterprises that played a key role in the development of the local area. LEGO built its own airport in Billund in the early 1960s; today, this airport is the main international air hub for western Denmark.

A central hub

As a central region of Denmark and as a gateway to Europe, Southern Jutland has an extensive traffic and transport network. From the 1850s, the railway tied towns and cities together. Later, highways and even later motorways were built which now serve as the main arteries for the exchange of goods and labour in the region. One prominent central hub is the so-called Triangle Region defined by the towns of Vejle, Kolding and Fredericia. All traffic between Jutland and Funen and Zealand passes through this area, near the Little Belt Bridge.

The airports in Billund, Esbjerg and Sønderborg are also significant to the region, along with the ports in Esbjerg, Fredericia and Aabenraa.

Urban transformation

Agriculture dominates the experience of the landscape in South Jutland with farms scattered throughout the scenery. Historical urban centres are surrounded by housing areas with single-family homes as the dominant form. Large industrial and commercial areas often dominated by logistics enterprises are also emerging on the outskirts of towns and along the approach roads, blurring the impression of a coherent urban unit.

In coastal towns, the original harbour areas are undergoing extensive transformation. In some cases, the industrial ports are growing in significance, including Aabenraa, Fredericia and Esbjerg, while others give way to new, exclusive housing developments, as in Sønderborg, Haderslev, Fredericia, Vejle and Horsens. The proximity to Jutland’s main city, Aarhus, also influences the role and growth potential for some towns, including Horsens.

The market towns are home to local administration and public sector buildings dedicated to education and health, often in buildings of high architectural quality. Good examples include the distinctive university architecture in Kolding and Sønderborg.

A recent trend is that urban centres are being densified through the addition of tall buildings with the aim of profiling the towns and providing a wide view and outlook. In particular, Vejle with Fjordenhus and Bølgen (The Wave), Billund with LEGO House and Sønderborg with Hotel Alsik have implemented a deliberate policy to incorporate art and architecture in their efforts to create a unique local profile.

More nature

In Southern Jutland, coherent nature areas are sparse due to intensive cultivation. Hence, the establishment of green space close to urban areas, and the designation of national parks are a priority in both planning and legislation efforts.

In recent centuries, major wetlands have been drained and converted to farmland. Ecological restoration projects, such as those at Slivsø, Solkær Enge and Filsø are now leading the water back to these areas to the benefit of new nature areas and biodiversity. Other related initiatives include afforestation and the setting aside of marginal farmland, all with the purpose of giving nature a more prominent role in Southern Jutland.