View from the top deck of the Celebrity Cruise looking down on Fredericia DK
The story goes that this little town was established in 1650 by Danish King Fredrick III as a new capital city for Denmark, but it never became so. The Fredericia Denmark cruise port is located on the eastern part of the Jutland peninsula and you will likely land here for a day trip after visiting the metropolitan city of Copenhagen (read blog post). The town likely relies on tourist traffic to their little town and, like on our occasion, will likely greet you with festive folk music as you de-board the ship. It was in fact very charming. I also suspect that the pop up street vendors set up shop for the special occasion as well, and the prices and busy square will show for it, but its worth a stroll. Believe me you’ll have the time to spare.
A Charming Fortress
Travel Tip >> Skip the cruise’s shore excursion, unless you want to venture outside of the city, just take the map and enjoy walking around on your own. You’ll find everything you need to see and have enough time to do so.
Fredericia Vold Moat Waters
If you’re not prepared for what to expect in this port then you will likely be extremely underwhelmed. My travel tip is not intended to be negative it’s just to help you understand that this town gives you more of a small town feel and breather from the big city ports that ships tend to land in and you don’t need to rush. A few friends of ours attested to this after spending the money on the brightly colored sticker and celebrity paddle sign and proved it to be true. The town and its people have their own special charm that is worth checking out as long as you’re there for six to eight hours. Unless of course you want to venture outside the city to destinations like Egeskov Castle, Denmark’s Oldest Town of Ribe, Viking Age Monuments, or Fairytale Island, all of which seem to be great options.
White Water Tower Fredericia DK
Before the city was named by King Frederick III, King Christian IV built a large fortified encampment that gave the town the military identity and history we know today. The old walls are easy to walk to and the green park space around them offers a relaxing and peaceful light walk. I loved walking along the waters of the moat surrounding the fortress, even on a cloudy day the scene was charming and had its own unique feeling that mixed strength and romace. There are some stairs to climb to get back to the top of the fortress but it’s worth the view. You’ll find old military cannons scattered around the hills and the path will lead straight to the White Water Tower that is shaped like a single round castle. All the guides recommend climbing to the top, though I believe we didn’t because there was a small fee and the view was decent enough from the hilltop where we stood. It’s small but cool to see.
Fredericia Fun Fact
Danish teens, or at least those in Fredericia, apparently get drunk and dress up in costumes to celebrate the end of classes. I should have gone to high school in this town…
Partying with the Danish youth
I must pause at this point in the short guide to Fredericia to explain what the hell is going on if you are traveling to the city during mid-to-late May, or anytime near the end of a school term, in this town. When we got to the White Water Tower it was difficult to not be distracted by the crowds of fumbling teenagers getting completely wasted in the middle of the park while wearing costumes ranging from a cow, complete with milking nipples, to wizards and witches, and everything in between. Our first guess was that maybe here they celebrate Halloween in May but nope! After straight up asking a large chicken walking upright down the street, we learned that apparently this tradition happens during a school’s finals week, and it doesn’t particularly matter if you still have a test to take or not, the festivities must go on! We had the wrong lens on to capture the scene in detail, or maybe my husband fully intended to focus on his new wife instead, whatever the case may be, you can get a fuzzy idea of the scene in the picture to the left.
Landsoldaten “The Foot Soldier” Statue
Other Historic Sites in Fredericia
Travel Tip >> Keep your eyes open and you’ll find little things along the way to appreciate, like the Jewish Cemetery that can be seen as you walk down the hill from the White Water Tower. Here are a few other gems my feet found their way to.
As you walk down the hill from the White Water Tower you’ll run straight into the famed Landsoldaten, or “The Foot Soldier,” statue of Fredericia. It stands homage to the military heritage of the town, and the Battle of Fredericia, which is commemorated with a full festival held annually on July 6th. I vaguely remember it being relatively similar in purpose to The Tomb of the Unknown Solider in Arlington National Cemetery for the United States. A few short steps from there, through the trees, you’ll find the Jewish Cemetery located on the street corner that you can look down into from the hillside. I didn’t realize what it was at the time, but even walking past it you can feel its history and importance. It’s the largest of its kind outside of Copenhagen and is located at the corner of Slesvigsgade and Jyllandsgade. And on my way back to the ship I could not help but be drawn to a beautifully tarnished bronze steeple atop a brick church which turns out to be the catholic church of St. Knud, so fitting for my faith. For most it may blend right into the rest of the brick-and-red-roofed architecture but its a pleasant surprise if you appreciate such things.
Fredericia At-a-Glance
Stories aside what are the main attractions when walking around the city?
Here is a list from both my blog post and a few other travel sites to consider when walking around the city:
- Fredericia Vold – The park area, with moat waterway, and battle cannons scattered about
- The White Water Tower – A nice view of the city from atop the fortress
- Landsoldaten “The Foot Soldier” – Statue commemorating the Battle of Fredericia celebrated each year on July 6
- The Jewish Cemetery – Jewish burial ground with about 500 graves on the corner of Slesvigsgade and Jyllandsgade
- St. Knud Catholic Church – Beautifully simple brick building with tall tarnished bronze steeple
- Madsby Parken – A park that your kids can play out or just lounge by the water
- Trinatatis Church – A beautiful church that holds a piece of Danish history
More Travel Blogs from the Region by Lindsay:
- Copenhagen Travel | From the Canals to Christianshavn
- The Hague | The North Sea in South Holland
- Amsterdam Adventures | From Mainstream to Microbrewed
