Danevirke Museum
Museum of the Danish minority at the Danevirke near Schleswig; the visitor center is closed until the new building opens in spring 2027.
About the museum
The Danevirke Museum was founded in 1990 by Sydslesvigsk Forening, the umbrella cultural organization of the Danish minority in Southern Schleswig. It was set up in the village of Dannewerk, right on the main rampart of the Danevirke (Danewerk), a border fortification used and expanded by the Danish kings for some 700 years and reactivated for military use once more in the war of 1864. The museum was initially housed in the former Danevirkegården farmstead from 1836, which was expanded in 2002.
The bilingual exhibition explained the construction and history of the rampart as well as its national and mythological significance for Denmark, along with the history of the Danish minority since 1864. Since 2018, the Danevirke and Hedeby (Haithabu) have jointly been a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the museum also serves as an information center for this World Heritage Site. Surrounding the building is the Archaeological Park with the main rampart, the Thyraburg, the Gate to the North, the Waldemar Wall, and the reconstructed Cannon Redoubt 14.
Funded by multimillion donations from Danish foundations, the museum has been undergoing reconstruction for several years. The old buildings were demolished in 2022, and operations temporarily continued in a provisional visitor center. The new building, designed by Lundgaard & Tranberg Arkitekter, is to house a permanent exhibition of around 800 square meters and is scheduled to open in spring 2027; at the same time, the Schleswig-Flensburg district is upgrading the Archaeological Park with new circular trails and a viewing platform.
Highlights
- Main rampart of the Danevirke, part of the Hedeby and Danevirke UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Gate to the North in the main rampart
- Brick Waldemar Wall (12th century)
- Reconstructed Cannon Redoubt 14 from the war of 1864
- Information center for the Hedeby-Danevirke World Heritage Site
- Founded
- 1990
- Operated by
- Sydslesvigsk Forening e.V.
- Director
- Lars Erik Bethge
Admission & discounts
| Groups | –Guided tour of the Archaeological Park (1 hr) €60 per group; Danevirke–Hedeby hike (3 hrs, approx. 8 km) €180 |
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Admission prices for the new museum have not yet been published.
Accessibility
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
Viking activities for young and old such as archery and amulet casting, as well as art activities for children at the rampart (about 120 min. each, from age 6, by registration). Children's birthday parties with a Viking or art program (for example, 2 hours for up to 12 children), outdoor seating available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
By train to Schleswig station, from there on bus lines 8 or 670 (stops include the train station and the ZOB in Schleswig) to directly in front of the museum.
By car
Parking available
Parking lot opposite the GPS address Ochsenweg 5; the temporary visitor center is also located there.
By car via the A 7, exit 6 Schleswig/Jagel, then follow the signs about 2.5 km to the west; GPS address Ochsenweg 5, Dannewerk.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Tours, school programs, Viking activities and children's birthday parties can also be booked during the construction period (school and visitor service). Tours in German and Danish: through the Archaeological Park or combined with the exhibition, 60 min. each (max. 25 people), hike to the Viking Museum Haithabu about 3 hours. |
