Ry
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Ry

Ry

Danish lake town in Søhøjlandet, where the Gudenå, forested hills, and paddle steamers meet near Himmelbjerget.

Located between Aarhus and Silkeborg, Ry (pronounced like the French 'rue') sits at the heart of Søhøjlandet — the Danish Lake Highlands — the closest Denmark gets to hilly terrain. The river Gudenå runs right through town, and the surrounding area is all forests, lakes, and gentle hills shaped by the last ice age.

You can sail, canoe, or walk through the woods. Wild roe deer are common. The main natural landmark is Himmelbjerget, one of Denmark's highest points at 147 metres, reached by a traditional paddle steamer across Lake Julsø. The ruins of Øm Abbey, a twelfth-century Cistercian monastery, sit on a lakeside peninsula a few kilometres south. For those who want to move through the landscape, the Gudenå canoe route connects the lakes in a multi-day paddling journey.

Ry is easy to reach by train from Aarhus. It is not hugely touristic, though German and Dutch visitors are common in summer. The quieter village of Gammel Rye, a few kilometres west, has an older church and good lakeshore walks.

Guide

Getting There

Ry is on the railway line between Aarhus and Silkeborg, with regular services throughout the day. The journey from Aarhus takes about thirty-five minutes; from Silkeborg about twenty minutes. The station is central and within easy walking distance of canoe hire, the lake, and the town centre.

By car, Ry is about thirty kilometres west of Aarhus on Route 445. The drive takes about thirty minutes outside of rush hour. There is a free car park near the town centre and by the lake.

Guide

Things to Do

Ry sits at the heart of the Søhøjlandet — Denmark's Lake Highlands — and the things to do here are mostly outdoors. You come to walk, canoe, or cycle through a landscape of lakes, forests, and gentle hills that Danes are rightfully proud of, even if foreign visitors mostly overlook it. The main natural landmark is Himmelbjerget, one of Denmark's highest points, and the ruins of Øm Abbey add a dose of history to the lakeside scenery.