In the heyday of Hærvejen, this area was a large piece of heath, Oksenvad Hede or Stursbøl Hede, and thus a flat and open landscape where visible demonstrations of power in the form of burial mounds could be mounted. The original Hærvej had different courses across the heath. Stursbøl Plantage therefore contains up to 70 burial mounds - and it was the planting of forests in the early 1800s that saved the mounds from disappearing. Regardless of whether you come from the south or the north, you will meet higher ground shortly after entering the shelter and shade of the forest.
At the southern edge of the plantation, there is a festival site in the form of an open area right next to the Hærvejsruten. Here there are remains of a walled well, and the flora shows signs of an old garden. It is believed to be a former dance and party place from approx. 1845, and that the square may have been used by the military.
Stursbøl Plantage was one of the first heath plantations. As early as the beginning of the 1800th century, the struggle to get trees and forest out of the poor moorland was started. Climate and soil were not exactly a tailwind for the foresters in the early years. In return, experience was gained for the heath plantations that were carried out after 1864. That the forest was laid out in the so-called "foreigner period", when the area south of Jels was under Prussian rule, can still be seen from the right roads through the plantation.
The forest's vegetation is today very varied, because the hurricane in 1999 left 80% of the forest as fallen logs, and subsequently the vegetation has changed from primarily red spruce to a solid mixed forest. Single trees are left behind and provide habitat for insects and birds.
At the Hærvejsruten's entrance in the northern part of Stursbøl Plantage, there is a large seating area with tables and benches in the shade of old deciduous trees. You will find the rest area approx. 300 meters further south along Klovtoftevej.
Distances
Hærvejen's walking route 0 km
Hærvejen's cycle route 0 km