Fængslet

About the museum

The state prison in Horsens was built starting in 1847 and put into operation in 1853 – as the first prison in Denmark planned according to modern penal principles. For 153 years only men were held here, often with long sentences; the best-known inmates include the former justice minister Peter Adler Alberti and the escapee Carl August Lorentzen, who in 1949 freed himself through a tunnel after months of work. In 1892 the last execution by axe in peacetime took place here.

After its closure in 2006, a foundation took over the sprawling grounds and turned them into FÆNGSLET, a place for culture, concerts, conferences and overnight stays. On May 16, 2012, the Fængselsmuseet was officially opened there, run by Museum Horsens. Its collection on prison history had previously been only partly accessible.

On about 4,000 m², the rooms are largely preserved in their 2006 condition: isolation, infirmary and visiting wings, the prison church, cell blocks and a cell in its original 19th-century condition. Themes include punishment and the death penalty, loneliness, drugs, gang crime and the everyday lives of prisoners and guards; projections let inmates and officers drift like shadows through the corridors. The museum has received several awards, including in 2016 an international prize in London as best foreign museum.

Highlights

• Lorentzen's escape tunnel of 1949, which you can walk through
• Cell in its 19th-century condition (Gammel Celle)
• Rockergangen – the cell block of the gang members
• Exhibition on the last execution by axe in Denmark
• Prison church
• Overnight stay in former cells (SleepIn)

Permanent exhibitions

• Lorentzens Tunnel – A reconstructed escape tunnel through which visitors can retrace the route of the escapee Carl August Lorentzen in 1949.
• Rockergangen – The cell block where members of rival gangs were last held, with traces of their daily life in custody.
• Henrettelsen – Exhibition on the last execution by axe in Denmark, which took place in the prison in 1892.

Founded

2012

Operated by

Museum Horsens (Museum); Fonden Fængslet (Gelände)

Visitors per year

approx. 80,000 (2025)

Admission & discounts

Adults DKK 120 at the ticket desk, DKK 110 when purchased online in advance. Free admission for school classes and daycare centers as well as youth education programs.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

In the museum, ramps and elevators provide access to the exhibition levels. The ramps to the building are very steep; staff are happy to help. In some smaller rooms the doors are too narrow for larger wheelchairs. Accessible parking spaces near the main entrance at the green gate. Service dogs with proof are allowed, other dogs only on a leash on the outdoor grounds. For people with autism there is a visual preparation (AutismGoTo).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Family activities in the museum: searching for the hidden stamp, finding escaped birds, escape in virtual reality in Lorentzen's footsteps and a workshop where children and adults make their own linocut prints. During school holidays additional children's programs and tours; children's menu at Brasseriet.

Getting there & parking

By car from Aarhus about 46 km via E45 and E56 to Horsens.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Café and lunch restaurant Brasseriet FÆNGSLET at the entrance (breakfast from 10:00, smørrebrød, burgers, children's menu). Food brought from outside is not allowed in the museum. Prison shop. Overnight stays in former cells at the SleepIn.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Conferences, company parties, concerts, trade fairs and festivals on the 116,000 m² grounds (including Vestsalen, Indergården, Arrest, Gl. Celle); private celebrations such as weddings, confirmations and birthdays with menu packages. Inquiries to arr@faengslet.dk.

Plan your visit