Brenderup was established as a daughter settlement of Ellerup. This is a specific historical connection for the area; at Brenderup Vænge, the forest and terrain take centre stage. The Øhavsstien adds a 35-kilometre section to the themes, while the wider area also features evidence from the Iron and Stone Ages. When planning a trip, you can consider the landscape, route and archaeological sites as distinct points of interest.
Brenderup Vænge: Forest landscape and oak
Brenderup Vænge lies on the wooded western side of the Gudbjerg-Gudme-Hesselager area. The forest covers 156 hectares and is flat to gently rolling. Its area and terrain describe the natural landscape in two different ways: its extent is one focus, while its gentle relief is another. This makes it possible to view Brenderup Vænge as a landscape in its own right, rather than only in terms of a single feature.
At Brenderup Vænge, a protection order dated 14 May 1948 protects an oak tree. The date is part of the protection order. The oak is a specifically named protected feature within the landscape described here; the forest and its terrain provide the broader setting. Those who explore both natural and cultural landscapes will find both here: a description of the landscape by area and a single, historically dated protection measure.
A change of landscape along the Øhavsstien
The Svendborg–Broholm–Lundeborg section of the Øhavsstien is 35 kilometres long. It passes through Vejstrup Ådal and then continues through agricultural landscapes to Broholm. The route’s length and sequence of landscapes give it a different character from Brenderup Vænge, which is described in terms of its area and terrain. When comparing nature experiences, you can consider whether a forest or a named route passing through changing landscapes interests you more. For the Øhavsstien, the sequence from the valley to the agricultural landscape and the endpoint at Broholm are specific points of reference.
Traces from the Iron and Stone Ages
The surrounding area features historical sites in different locations: traces of halls at Gudmekongens Hal in Gudme, finds from the area around Broholm and several long barrows in Gudbjerg mindelund. The individual remains differ in form: alongside archaeological traces and marked hall sites, there is a collection of finds and a complex of burial mounds.
Gudmekongens Hal in Gudme
At Gudmekongens Hal, there are traces of two large halls from the Iron Age. The traces are interpreted as Gudme Prinsens Sal and its Gudesal. Today, the two halls are marked by concrete pillars, whose dimensions convey an impression of their former size. This connects the historical interpretation with a present-day indication of their scale. For travellers interested in history, this connection is particularly informative: the halls have been preserved as traces, while the pillars give a sense of their dimensions.
Finds at Broholm and long barrows in Gudbjerg
The collection of antiquities at Broholm Castle includes around 70,000 flint finds and other Stone Age finds from the area around Broholm. The focus here is on the material and its regional origin. This is a different approach to prehistory from the hall traces at Gudme: instead of an architectural interpretation, the subject is a collection of Stone Age finds.
Gudbjerg mindelund contains a complex of four long barrows. They are 106, 41, 19 and 117 metres long. The measurements show a considerable range within the complex: 19 metres is the shortest and 117 metres the longest; the other two structures measure 41 and 106 metres. When choosing historical sites by theme, you can also consider the different dimensions of the long barrows alongside the hall traces and finds.
For the general travel overview: Gudbjerg Sydfyn.
