Bække-Vejen

Selected experiences on the route

Protected Hærvej
Just north of Bække, at the parking lot west of the Ribe-Vejle Highway, you will find an authentic section of the ancient main road: Hærvej. Here, you can still see the original course of the road.

Hærvej was not a constructed road, but rather a track that was worn down by repeated traffic and then shifted to a new track, and at this place, Hærvej has been about 90 meters wide.

The major thoroughfare through Jutland from Viborg to Schleswig has many names: Hærvej, Ox Road, or Pilgrim's Way. It was primarily used as a drover's road for cattle being driven to the North German markets, but pilgrims also used it to head south. If you are coming from Hærvej's hiking or cycling route, you should make a detour.

This small and authentic piece of Hærvej was protected in 1927. Thanks to a local landowner who donated the land for preservation, you can still sense the road's nature and environment more than 1000 years later.

Ribe-Vejle Highway 65B, 6622 Bække

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Bække Church
Bække Church is a Romanesque ashlar church, built around the year 1100, and has undergone several alterations and additions over time. Today, the church consists of a chancel, nave, and tower, but originally it also included an apse. There were once doors on both the north and south sides, but unlike many other churches, the north door in Bække Church is wider than the south door – likely because the settlement was located north of the church. For the same reason, the churchyard wall has a gate on its northern side. On two of the western foundation corners, you can see carved heads. Above the south door, a tympanum depicts Christ on the throne between the kneeling Peter and Paul.

The bell in Bække Church dates from 1795, when it was recast from the old bell. The original inscription was reused. An archaeological excavation in 1971 uncovered 19 coins, but did not provide new insight into the church’s history.

Søndergade 11A, 6622 Bække
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