The North Funen coast is fantastic, and it is an understatement to say that it is a popular destination.
The nature, the beach and wide open spaces invite you go for long hikes, bathe in the sea, sunbathe and much, much more. North Funen Municipality places a great deal of emphasis on water quality, safety, information, the environment and facilities on the North Funen beaches. This is to ensure that everyone has a great time at the beach.
The beach in front of Hofmansgave looks out over the blue waves of the Kattegat. Historically, the name Kattegat was mentioned for the first time around 1660, in the form of Das Katte Gat – the cat hole.
The captains of the Dutch commercial fleets compared the Danish sounds (the Great Belt, the Little Belt and Øresund) to a hole so narrow that even a cat would find it difficult to squeeze itself through.
This was not least because of the many reefs and calm waters, something to which countless old shipwrecks will testify. It is unclear which part of the waters originally bore the name Kattegat. Towards the north east, on clear days, you can see the cliffs at Fyns Hoved and Langø (approximately 10 km away).
The “Fjordmarken” damming
When you drive along the coastal road from Otterup to Hasmark, you are actually driving over a large, old fjord. The 607 hectare Egense Fjord went under the name of Fjordmarken, and was dammed in 1818 by Elias Møller on Østrupgård. The project was executed as the first large-scale project in the history of land reclamation in Denmark. Moreover, at up to three metres in depth, the damming was North Funen’s deepest.
From the seawall, you get a fantastic view over the area. Behind the pump house, on the bank of the canal, you can see traces of a massive oyster bank which was here a long time before the area was drained. In the period after the damming, many of the roaches were dug up, milled, turned into chicken feed and sold.
Today, the area is an absolutely lovely place in which to take a stroll and, depending on the season, there is
ample opportunity to experience a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. It is recommended that you keep to the roads and paths.
Hofmansgave
No Funen manor house has changed its name as often as Hofmansgave. Over the years, different owners have called the farm, among other things: Knyle, Qvitzowsholm,Roseneje and Bøttigersholm. The name Hofmansgave dates from 1785. The manor house lies on a former island which was connected with the mainland by means of seawalls in the 1700s.
The Hofman-Bang family resided in the manor house for several generations until the last direct descendant died in 1972 and the farm was handed over to a Foundation. The Hofman-Bang family were all scientists, botanists and artists, and their great passion was agriculture and the large park, in which they planted many rare and varied trees, bushes and flowers.
Today, the charming, beautiful old park is most certainly worth a visit. Besides the numerous trees and plants, the park houses an impressive collection of sketches as well as Denmark’s only potato museum. The atmospheric manor house is not open to the public but you can experience it is a worth seeing from the outside.
Remember…
…to take an enjoyable trip out to Enebærodde, visit Lammesø / Ølund, Klintebjerg and Vigelsø. Or the impressive megalithic tomb ”Gåseste-nen” outside Norup/Emmelev.