Cycle route: Tranekær Castle Route (22 km)

Tranekær and the hathills

This cycle route takes you through the undulating landscape around Tranekær (junction 88), shaped during the last ice age over 10,000 years ago. Here you’ll encounter Langeland’s characteristic hathills, which lie in two parallel rows, creating a gently undulating terrain, perfect for small, winding cycle paths with little traffic.

Along the way, you cycle through a living cultural landscape shaped by the history of Tranekær Estate – with fields framed by hedgerows, woods of ancient oak trees and traces of farming from times gone by. In several places, you pass burial mounds from the Neolithic period, and occasionally the landscape opens up to views of the sea on both sides of the island.

Tranekær Castle and the castle park

In Tranekær, you’ll encounter the striking red castle, perched high on a hathill. The castle park, inspired by English landscapes from the mid-19th century, is home to TICKON (Tranekær International Centre for Art and Nature), where art and nature come together in close harmony. Opposite the park lie the Medicinal Gardens, featuring themed gardens showcasing plants for respiration, metabolism and circulation.

The castle town of Tranekær is modelled on German designs and features many listed buildings, small-scale experiences and local attractions such as the Souvenir Shop and the Visitor Apiary, where you can experience the fascinating life of bees.

Forest, wetlands and history

Further east, you reach Botofte Skovmose (junctions 47 and 23), a restored wetland with a rich birdlife. The route also passes the impressive double megalithic tomb in Tvede Skov and a historic tobacco drying shed, which bears witness to Langeland’s tobacco cultivation during the Second World War. At Stengade Skov (junction 51), you can take a short detour to Oehlenschläger’s Beech, with a beautiful view of the Langeland Belt – it is said that the poet Adam Oehlenschläger found inspiration for the national anthem here in 1819.

At Tullebølle Leisure Park (at junction 38) you’ll find toilets, a playground, shelters and a picnic area, before the route heads back towards Tranekær.

The cycle route can be ridden in either direction, and you can choose your own starting point.

On the route, you will pass the following junctions: 88 – 75 – 23 – 65 – 31 – 25 – 36 – 70 – 38 – 68 – 40 – 57 – 80 – 88.

The cycle route has been developed by Langelands Stivenner and its development has been co-funded by the EU.