Lejre Museum

About the museum

Lejre Museum lies on the edge of the village of Gl. Lejre, about 7 km from Roskilde. It was founded in 2003 and is housed in Hestebjerggård, a thatched four-winged farmhouse from the 19th century named after a nearby burial mound. Today the museum belongs to the museum organization ROMU, which also runs the Roskilde Museum and other sites in the municipalities of Roskilde, Lejre, and Frederikssund.

The museum's theme is the importance of Lejre as a center of power: excavations of recent decades prove that over about 500 years in the Late Iron Age and Viking Age, large royal halls stood here, succeeding one another. According to medieval traditions, the legendary dynasty of the Skjoldungs resided in Lejre, with kings such as Rolf Krake and Harald Hildetand; the Old English heroic epic Beowulf is also linked to the place.

The permanent exhibition "Sagnkongernes Lejre" juxtaposes legends and archaeological findings and works with light, sound, film, and a large digital wall map. Among the best-known pieces are the silver figure Odin fra Lejre, discovered in 2009 during the excavation of the largest Danish royal hall, the Mannerup hoard as Denmark's largest silver hoard, and the Gevninge find.

From the museum, hiking trails lead to the sites in the landscape, such as the roughly 90 m long ship setting and the hall area. The museum also includes the farm Gl. Kongsgård from 1740, about 200 m away, which will be restored in 2026 and 2027.

Highlights

• Silver figure Odin fra Lejre (find from 2009)
• Mannerup hoard – Denmark's largest silver hoard
• Permanent exhibition "Sagnkongernes Lejre" on legends and archaeology
• Thatched four-winged farmhouse Hestebjerggård
• Hiking trails to the ship setting and royal hall area in Gl. Lejre

Permanent exhibitions

• Sagnkongernes Lejre – Exhibition in three parts on written legends, excavation findings, and the most important finds from Lejre, with a digital wall map of the surrounding monuments. The Odin figure is on loan to the Fries Museum in Leeuwarden until February 16, 2027 and returns for the 2027 season.

Founded

2003

Operated by

ROMU (Museen in Roskilde, Lejre und Frederikssund)

Director

Morten Thomsen Højsgaard (Direktor ROMU)

Admission & discounts

School classes and kindergartens free. Members of Ældre Sagen and Børn i Byen receive a 20% discount. The Copenhagen Card is accepted. The shop and café are accessible without admission.

Accessibility

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

Wheelchair users can reach almost the entire museum. Accessible toilet in the museum. Service dogs are welcome, other pets are not.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

During the holidays there are family programs, for example in the autumn holidays storytelling and a creative workshop around the magic and myths of the Viking Age for children aged 4 to 12, as well as evening spooky walks to the ship setting. Strollers can be left in front of the museum and in the large courtyard.

Getting there & parking

The museum lies on the edge of Gl. Lejre, about 2 km from Lejre Stationsby and 7 km from Roskilde. The parking lot at the museum is also the starting point for walks to the sites.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Small café corner with organic coffee, juices, sodas, ice cream, and chocolate from the region, in the summer half-year also with outdoor seating. Museum shop with web shop. Free open Wi-Fi.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit