Christiansfeld was founded in 1773 as a planned settlement of the Moravian Church. It is considered the best-preserved example of a Northern European settlement of this community, laid out around a central church square. The town’s history is evident not only in individual attractions: the layout and design of the streets are also part of its character. During your stay, you can combine the town’s history, gardens and routes of varying lengths and focuses.
Townscape and church square
Yellow brick houses with large red tile roofs define the straight, densely planted streets. These recurring features make the planned layout recognizable in the townscape. At the center is Salshuset church. Its sanctuary is the largest in Denmark without supporting columns. The church square, street layout and architecture form a cohesive focal point for anyone wishing to understand how Christiansfeld was founded and laid out.
History at Søstrehuset
Søstrehuset tells the story of Christiansfeld and the Moravian Church. The building is 250 meters from Christiansfeld bus station. At the west gable, an entrance with a ramp and lift provides access to the entire building. Visitors can also take a historical guided tour through the streets of Christiansfeld.
Admission to the exhibitions at Søstrehuset includes the digitally guided tour “Genforeningen i 1920.” Using the Vizgu app, it takes visitors to notable places in Christiansfeld and tells the story of reunification. Søstrehuset thus offers both exhibitions and a digital perspective on the town’s history.
Gardens and routes around Christiansfeld
Comeniushaven is a public demonstration garden created in 2015. It is a place to relax and provides information about the original gardens. Christines Sti offers a different perspective on the landscape: the 1.4-kilometer route leads from Christiansfeld to nearby Christinero, passing through fields, meadows and woodland. Along the way, it crosses two streams and passes underneath the Omfartsvejen bypass.
Christinero is a protected estate southwest of the town, laid out at the end of the 18th century. A path through Smedeholm forest leads from there to the old Tyrstrup vicarage. The protected Bullade still stands at its original location at the vicarage; it was built in 1668. Christinero and the vicarage add nearby examples of the cultural landscape to the history of the planned town.
Cemetery, honey cakes and practical information
Gudsageren is the Moravian cemetery in Christiansfeld. No grave has been removed since it was consecrated in 1774. The burial tradition places women on the right in the east and men on the left in the west. Another link to Moravian history is Xocolatl: the honey cake bakery dates back to 1783, makes the original Christiansfeld honey cakes daily and also produces chocolate products.
There are routes of different lengths and for different uses. Christines Sti is 1.4 kilometers long; Christiansfeldruten is a 25-kilometer cycling route that crosses National Cycle Route 8, the Østersøruten. Its surface is 60 percent asphalt and 40 percent gravel. Free parking is available throughout Christiansfeld; buses are not permitted to park in the UNESCO area. You can plan your stay around your interests: the townscape and history, a garden and a walk, or a longer cycling route.
Discover more destinations: Viuf, Vojens, Bjert Strand, Bjert, Frydenborg, Almind, Hejls, Vamdrup.
For the overview of the wider area: Kolding Municipality.
