Genforenings- og Grænsemuseet
Volunteer-run museum at the former border near Frederikshøj about the Schleswig Wars, the border of 1864–1920, and the reunification.
About the museum
The Genforenings- og Grænsemuseet is located a few kilometers north of Christiansfeld near Frederikshøj, opposite the inn Den gamle Grænsekro. From 1864 to 1920 the border between the Kingdom of Denmark and Prussia, and later the German Empire, ran here. On July 10, 1920, King Christian X rode across the abolished border at this spot into the regained Northern Schleswig, a scene familiar in Denmark from many history books.
The idea for the museum came from eight citizens of the municipality at the time, supported by the population of the whole surrounding area. On July 10, 1995, exactly 75 years after the King's Ride, Queen Margrethe II opened the building in the presence of other members of the royal family and around 5,000 guests. It is housed in a former residential building north of the old border, in which a bed always had to be kept ready for gendarmes staying overnight. An exhibition wing was added in 2006, a glass entrance between the old and new buildings in 2008, and another hall of about 125 square meters in 2016/17.
The exhibitions span the period from the Schleswig Wars through the drawing of the border, smuggling, and border crossings to the Danish-minded Northern Schleswigers in World War I, the plebiscite, and the reunification of 1920; a separate area is devoted to Christian X. In the surrounding area, a border trail, two King's Stones, former gendarme houses, and the old German customs house lead to further sites.
The museum is run entirely by volunteers: a seven-member board and numerous volunteer museum hosts look after the exhibitions, garden, and visitors. The patron is Count Ingolf af Rosenborg, a grandson of Christian X. Lectures and commemorative events take place regularly, for example for the armistice on November 11.
Highlights
- Located directly at the border abolished in 1920, across which King Christian X rode
- Exhibitions on the drawing of the border in 1864, smuggling, and border crossings
- Memories of Danish-minded Northern Schleswigers in World War I
- Area on the "Reunification King" Christian X
- Border trail along the old border with King's Stones and gendarme houses
Permanent exhibitions
- De slesvigske krige – Stories from the Three Years' War of 1848–50 and the defeat of 1864, supplemented by contemporary press images.
- Grænsedragningen i 1864 – How the border at Frederikshøj was drawn, with smuggler stories and the former border crossings.
- Afstemningen og genforeningen i 1920 – The plebiscite, the reunification, and Christian X's ride across the abolished border in front of the museum's windows.
- Founded
- 1995
- Operated by
- Ehrenamtlicher Vorstand des Genforenings- og Grænsemuseet
Admission & discounts
| Adults | DKK 40 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 14 · Children under 15 free. |
| Groups (21+ people) | DKK 30 per personGroup price for 21 or more people paying together; smaller groups DKK 40 per person. Groups by advance booking only, at least three weeks ahead (info@genforeningsmuseet.dk or +45 22 83 18 79); bring written confirmation. |
| Video introduction with your own museum host (groups) | DKK 300plus admission |
| Group visit outside opening hours (base price) | DKK 400including video introduction and museum host, plus admission |
Members of the friends' association have free admission.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Getting there & parking
By car
Free parking
Free parking for cars and buses at the museum.
The museum is located on Koldingvej a few kilometers north of Christiansfeld, opposite the inn Den gamle Grænsekro.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Museum shop with books, posters, and souvenirs about the reunification (also orderable by email); museum garden with a sun courtyard.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Groups can book a video introduction and their own museum host. School classes are accompanied by volunteer guides. From the museum, the former border can be explored on a border trail about 500 meters long; geocaching is also available in the surrounding area. |
