📷 Photo by Vee Campbell on UnsplashHimmelbjerget
Ry, Denmark
One of Denmark’s highest points at 147 m, crowned by a brick tower above the Silkeborg lakes. In summer an old paddle steamer links it with Silkeborg.
Himmelbjerget ("Sky Mountain") is a 147-metre hill between Ry and Silkeborg in the Danish Lake District (Søhøjlandet) in central Jutland. A 2005 survey showed that Møllehøj, at 170.86 metres, is Denmark's highest natural point; Himmelbjerget ranks eighth. It rises about 121 metres from the water of Lake Julsø.
On the summit stands a 25.1-metre brick tower from 1875 commemorating King Frederik VII and the constitution of 1849. The hill has hosted gatherings and festivals for more than 200 years.
From the water you can reach it on the historic paddle steamer Hjejlen (built 1861 by B&W in Copenhagen), which sails from Silkeborg to Himmelbjerget in about 1 hour 15 minutes; in summer it also runs from Ry. According to VisitDenmark it operates from May to September. A path of about 1.2 kilometres leads up from Lake Julsø, bus 311 stops at car park P1, and the Aarhus–Silkeborg hiking route also passes through the area. Please check timetables in advance.
- Nearest town
- Ry, Denmark
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 56.1024, 9.6831
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Denmark: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Tolls on the Great Belt and Øresund bridges. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Terrassen CampingCampsite3 km from HimmelbjergetTentsCaravansShowersToilets
- Skyttehusets Outdoor CampCampsite4 km from HimmelbjergetTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Gammel Rye TeltpladsCampsite5 km from HimmelbjergetTentsDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Bryrup Camping & ResortCampsite14 km from Himmelbjerget · 250 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Hesselhus CampingCampsite19 km from HimmelbjergetTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Gyvelborg NaturcampingCampsite23 km from Himmelbjerget · 15 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
All campsites in Denmark · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Himmelbjerget?
Himmelbjerget is in Ry, Denmark, at GPS 56.1024, 9.6831. It is about 11 km from Silkeborg.
Can you camp near Himmelbjerget?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Julsø Shelter- og Teltplads, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 57 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Himmelbjerget?
Himmelbjerget is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Central Jutland: lakes, runestones and LEGO and Moraine hills, the Kattegat and lake country – by motorhome through East Jutland from Aarhus via Mols Bjerge, Djursland and the Gudenå to Himmelbjerget.
What is there to see near Himmelbjerget?
Places worth a stop nearby: Den Gamle By (33 km), Moesgaard Museum (34 km), Jelling Mounds and Runestones (42 km) and LEGO House (54 km).
When is the best time to visit Himmelbjerget?
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)