Museum Frello

About the museum

Museum Frello is located in the middle of Varde, just west of St. Jacob's Church (Sankt-Jacobi-Kirche), and is part of the Vardemuseerne, the group of state-recognized museums of Varde Municipality. The building was formerly called Varde Museum. Since 2008 it has been housed in a school building from 1856 that belonged to the old Sct. Jacobi Skole until 2004.

The museum is named after the painter Otto Frello (1924–2015), who was born in Outrup north of Varde, worked as a journeyman painter in Esbjerg, and later studied art history in København, taught at an art school, and became known as an illustrator of manuals. Starting in 1970 he created around 80 fantastic, richly detailed paintings in which frame and picture merge, perspectives deceive the eye, and viewers are invited to think along. The museum owns the largest collection of his paintings in Denmark as well as original drawings from his manuals; in 2018 the exhibition was reworked with new color and lighting design and supplemented with screens where museum staff point out details.

Besides the Frello paintings, the museum shows cultural history holdings from West Jutland. The exhibition "Liv i ler" is devoted to clay as a material over 6,000 years – from burial vessels to the black Jydepotter, whose production in the Varde-Egn fed many families for centuries, to porcelain and high-tech ceramics. Instead of long text panels, drawers invite visitors to explore and touch.

Highlights

• Largest collection of paintings by Otto Frello in Denmark
• Original manual drawings by Frello
• Frello treasure hunt for families
• Hands-on exhibition "Liv i ler" with drawers to touch
• West Jutland Jydepotter from the Varde-Egn

Permanent exhibitions

• Otto Frellos fantastiske univers – Denmark's largest collection of paintings by the painter Otto Frello, whose wealth of detail encourages close looking and further storytelling, complemented by original drawings from his manuals.
• Liv i ler – Exhibition on 6,000 years of clay as a material – from burial vessels and West Jutland Jydepotter to porcelain and modern ceramics – with drawers to explore and touch.

Operated by

Vardemuseerne

Admission & discounts

14-day tickets or annual passes for all Vardemuseerne at DKK 349, DKK 449, or DKK 649. Free admission with ICOM and ODM card. Schools and daycare centers visit the museum free of charge after registration, as do teachers.

Accessibility

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

The main entrance is reached via an old granite staircase with high steps and only one handrail. An accessible entrance with an automatic door and access to the elevator is located at the gable of the main building; it is normally locked and is opened after calling +45 75 22 08 78.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

With the Frello treasure hunt, children discover details in the paintings. In the exhibition "Liv i ler" there are drawers with objects to touch and try out. A playground is located in Arnbjerg Park about one kilometer away.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in the center of Varde right next to St. Jacob's Church (Sankt-Jacobi-Kirche).

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Museum shop with books, posters, and postcards with Frello motifs as well as clothing, jewelry, and crafts. No café; places to eat across the street and at Varde Torv. Food brought from outside may not be eaten in the museum; groups and school classes may do so in the workshop by arrangement.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit