Ringsted Museum

About the museum

The roots of the Ringsted Museum lie in a museum association founded in 1980, which at first collected mainly agricultural objects together with the municipality. In 1990 the museum received state recognition, and in 1993 it moved into its present premises on Køgevej. In 2005 it merged with the local archive, which had existed since 1959, to form the municipal institution "Historiens Hus – Ringsted Museum og Arkiv." In the merger at the turn of 2012/2013, it was absorbed into the new Museum Vestsjælland and has since carried the name Ringsted Museum og Arkiv.

The museum tells what makes the central Zealand town special – from the Iron Age through the Middle Ages, when Ringsted, with the Sct. Bendts Kirke, was the burial place of the Danish kings, to the present. The first floor deals with agriculture and its transformation since the agrarian reforms; on the second floor lies the double grave of two women from Kærup from around 250 AD, exactly as archaeologists found it in 2006. In the stairwell, humorous comic drawings by Erik Petri illustrate the town's history.

Next door to the museum is the Ringsted Vindmølle, a fully functional wooden windmill rebuilt after a fire in 1871, which ground commercially until 1965 and, after its restoration, once again processes organic grain into flour. The archive holds papers, photos, and local newspapers since 1853. On Torvet, the museum also runs the small visitor center Tingstedet.

Highlights

• Double grave of two women from Kærup from the Roman Iron Age (around 250 AD)
• Ringsted Vindmølle – functioning wooden windmill with the same opening hours
• Exhibition on agriculture since the agrarian reforms
• Town history as a comic by Erik Petri in the stairwell
• Local archive with newspapers since 1853
• Children's corner with hand mill and millstones

Permanent exhibitions

• Kvinderne fra Kærup – Grave of two women from the Roman Iron Age with jewelry and grave goods, shown in situ; also finds from the burial ground near Kærup.
• Landbrug, natur og samfund – det handler om grise! – How agriculture changed from the main livelihood of the population at the time of the agrarian reforms into the occupation of a few people.
• Ringsteds historie i Erik Petris streg – Town and national history as humorous comic murals in the stairwell.

Operated by

Museum Vestsjælland

Admission & discounts

Tickets are available in the museum shop. Members of the local museum association free, members of other Museum Vestsjælland associations pay half price. Use of the archive is free during opening hours.

Accessibility

• Partially 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

The exhibitions are easily accessible for visitors with walking difficulties; assistance is available during opening hours at +45 25 52 83 42. There are steps to the museum shop. Accessible restroom on the first floor. Certified service dogs with visible identification are welcome.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

In the children's corner, children grind grain on an old hand mill or on millstones as in the Stone Age and may take their flour with them (especially for ages 4–12). A craft and play corner offers materials for making things, family games, and old toys. For families there is the quiz town rally "Jagten på Ringsteds historie" (DKK 65, about one hour). Additional family activities take place during the holidays.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

Small café area with lemonade, coffee, tea, and something sweet; food you bring yourself may be eaten in the garden. Museum shop with tin toys, regional delicacies, books about Ringsted, and gift items. Flour from the Ringsted Vindmølle is available, outside opening hours by phone arrangement with the miller.

Events & venue rental

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

Plan your visit