Rebildcentret med Thingbæk Kalkminer

About the museum

Limestone was mined on a large scale in the Thingbæk lime pits from 1926. While mining was still under way, the sculptor Anders Bundgaard opened an underground sculpture museum here in 1935: he displayed his works in the tunnels and carved a relief into a mine wall. Once mining was no longer profitable it was discontinued; the tunnels were preserved as exhibition space.

Today the vaulted passages hold sculptures, statuettes, reliefs, and busts by Anders Bundgaard and Carl Johan Bonnesen, including plaster models of well-known works. The limestone walls also reveal the region's roughly 60-million-year geological history. In winter, the mines provide shelter for six species of bats.

The mines are now run by the private Rebildcentret, which has added further exhibitions. Since 2016 the center has been building a large exhibition on the Cold War, including a section on the neighboring government bunker REGAN Vest; the exhibition "Kilder til liv" is devoted to the springs, lakes, and streams of the Gravlev valley. In 2025 the sculpture museum celebrated its 90th anniversary.

Highlights

• Denmark's only sculpture museum in a lime mine
• Works by Anders Bundgaard and Carl Johan Bonnesen in the tunnels
• Hibernating bats (six species) in the mines
• Around 700 m² of Cold War exhibition with a hands-on REGAN Vest section
• The exhibition "Kilder til liv" on the springs of the Gravlev valley
• Picnic areas with a view at the mine entrance

Permanent exhibitions

• Thingbæk Kalkminer – Underground sculpture museum in the tunnels of the former lime mine, with works by Anders Bundgaard and Carl Johan Bonnesen.
• Den Kolde Krig – Around 700 square meters on military technology, espionage, and everyday life from the 1950s to the 1980s, with a section on the REGAN Vest government bunker and many hands-on objects.
• Kilder til liv – The springs, lakes, and streams around the Gravlev valley, their origins in limestone and the Ice Age, and their distinctive wildlife and plants.

Founded

1935

Operated by

Rebildcentret (privat)

Admission & discounts

Discount on admission with a ticket for the Cold War museum REGAN Vest (valid from one week before to one week after the visit there). Invoice fee DKK 50.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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

A paved path leads from the parking lot to the reception building; ramps and an elevator or passenger lift in the Kildetårnet make all exhibitions reachable without stairs. From there, a boardwalk and paved path lead to the mines. The floor in the mines is firm but somewhat uneven – passable with a walker and most wheelchairs. Two accessible toilets. Dogs on a leash are allowed only in the mines, not in the exhibition buildings (dog hooks with a water bowl at the entrance).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Many objects in the Cold War exhibition may be touched and tried out, e.g., uniforms and computer games from the 1980s. Family events take place during school holidays, such as "Flagermusland" in the autumn holidays.

Getting there & parking

The center is located in nature near Skørping, close to the highway. The neighboring Cold War museum REGAN Vest is a separate museum with its own ticket.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant: not available

Hot and cold drinks, beer, wine, snacks, and ice cream at reception; during the summer holidays also sandwiches and small lunch dishes from a local restaurant (while supplies last). Food brought from home is allowed in the reception area if drinks are purchased on site; outdoors there are picnic areas in the sculpture courtyard and at the mine entrance.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Group visits, team days, and other occasions, also outside opening hours (minimum charge DKK 2,000); catering in the café area or sculpture courtyard (set menu DKK 25, coffee and cake DKK 55 per person). Atmospheric lighting with 500 or 800 candles in the mines for DKK 2,300 or DKK 3,500.

Plan your visit