History Hunts med Hvem.nu

Interactive history in the heart of Aarhus

History Hunts med Hvem.nu sits in a historic street just a short walk from Aarhus Cathedral, in a compact space that feels more like a storytelling studio than a traditional museum. Here, local history is broken down into themed “hunts” that invite you to solve riddles, match clues to objects and piece together narratives about the city’s past. Instead of passively reading panels, you handle tasks, compare details and move around the space as you work through each mission. The focus is firmly on Aarhus and eastern Jutland, so the objects, images and tasks connect directly to places you can step outside and see for yourself. Many hunts are built to work both indoors and out, so your visit naturally spills into the surrounding Latin Quarter with its narrow streets and old brick buildings.

Viking traces and medieval town stories

One of the recurring themes is the Viking Age, when Aros – the old name of Aarhus – grew from a trading settlement into a fortified town. Storylines draw on excavated items and archaeological discoveries from the harbour area and the cathedral quarter, turning fragments of weaponry, jewellery or everyday tools into clues. You might follow the journey of a trader across the Kattegat, reconstruct a marketplace scene, or identify which imported goods signal long-distance connections. Later hunts move into the medieval period, when the town tightened around church spires and narrow lanes. Here, you explore how craftsmen worked, how merchants lived, and how religion shaped daily routines. Short texts and simple diagrams keep things understandable for younger visitors, while extra layers of detail reward adults who want more context.

Designed for curious families and small groups

Everything at History Hunts med Hvem.nu is laid out on a scale that suits families, school-age children and small groups of friends. Tasks are clearly structured and usually time-limited, turning history into a cooperative challenge. You might share out roles – clue reader, map holder, object spotter – and compare answers at the end. Staff are on hand during opening hours to introduce the concept, help you choose a hunt and answer questions about the material. The compact size also makes the experience manageable for visitors who prefer shorter cultural stops rather than half-day museum visits. You can complete a hunt in under two hours, then continue exploring nearby streets, cafés and cultural spots using the stories you have just uncovered as a new lens on the city.

A Latin Quarter backdrop of brick and cobbles

The setting on Paradisgade adds a strong sense of place. The street forms part of Aarhus’ Latin Quarter, a network of lanes lined with older facades and small independent businesses. As you step outside between tasks or follow an outdoor clue trail, you pass brick gables, hidden courtyards and occasional glimpses of church towers. It is easy to imagine how the medieval town once felt compressed within a tight ring of streets close to the harbour. Being in the city centre also means you are never far from other cultural sites. Stories picked up during a hunt might send you looking for details on nearby buildings, traces of old fortifications or motifs on church walls. The neighbourhood becomes an extended exhibition space, with modern life layered over centuries of history.

Practical visit: flexible, informal and weather-proof

The venue keeps straightforward daytime opening hours through the week, making it an easy add-on to a city itinerary. Indoor tasks work in any weather, while optional outdoor elements are best on dry days. The space is informal rather than grand – think simple displays, tables for sorting clues and enough room to move around without feeling overwhelmed. Because the concept is experience-based, it helps to arrive with a bit of time to spare so you can choose a hunt that matches your group’s interests and pace. Many visitors combine one hunt with a stroll through the Latin Quarter or a café stop nearby, turning the experience into a relaxed half-day of urban exploration anchored in local history.