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Elia: Denmark’s Striking Modern Monument in Herning

Elia in Herning: a colossal, open-access contemporary sculpture blending industrial heritage with modern art, crowned by eruptive fire and towering steel pillars.

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Elia is a monumental, dome-shaped sculpture created by artist Ingvar Cronhammar, located on the edge of Herning. This futuristic structure, standing 32 meters high, symbolizes the bold intersection of art, industry, and the Danish landscape. Visitors encounter an immersive, thought-provoking experience that blurs the boundary between public space and monumental artwork.

A brief summary to Haunstrup Brunkulslejer

  • Monday 12 am-12 am
  • Tuesday 12 am-12 am
  • Wednesday 12 am-12 am
  • Thursday 12 am-12 am
  • Friday 12 am-12 am
  • Saturday 12 am-12 am
  • Sunday 12 am-12 am

Local tips

  • Visit at sunset for dramatic lighting and a unique perspective on the sculpture’s steel forms.
  • If you want to see the flame, be patient—the eruption is unpredictable and happens a few times per day.
  • Combine your visit with other art sites in Birk Centerpark, where you’ll find outdoor installations and HE-ART Museum nearby.
  • Wear sturdy shoes: while accessible, the dome’s rim can be slippery in wet weather.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From Herning’s city center, reaching Elia is a pleasant journey through Birk’s business and cultural district. Allow 40–50 minutes on foot. The sculpture becomes visible as you near the Birk campus area, its towering pillars rising above the treeline—a compelling marker toward your destination.

  • Public Transport

    Buses regularly connect Herning’s central station with Birk Centerpark. The journey typically takes 10–15 minutes, with single adult tickets around 24 DKK. The stop is near Herning’s art museums, and from there, Elia’s iconic silhouette is easily spotted across landscaped lawns.

  • Taxi

    A short taxi ride from Herning’s core to Elia generally requires 8–12 minutes, depending on traffic, with fares averaging 110–140 DKK. Taxis can drop passengers at the sculpture’s entrance, just a short stroll from the dome.

  • Driving

    For drivers, Elia offers free parking on site. The location is signposted from main approach routes to Birk Centerpark. No tolls apply, and parking is generally available except during major events.

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Discover more about Haunstrup Brunkulslejer

Rising from the flat landscape at Birk Centerpark, Elia is Denmark’s most dramatic modern sculpture and one of the country’s most photographed public art landmarks. Commissioned as a testament to Herning’s longstanding cultural ambition, Elia was conceived by Swedish-Danish artist Ingvar Cronhammar and completed in 2001. The immense dome, 60 meters in diameter, is crowned with four towering steel columns and features a central flame that fires unpredictably, symbolizing the unpredictable forces of creativity and nature. The experience of approaching Elia is deliberate and ceremonial—broad walkways cut through manicured lawns, drawing the eye upward and inviting visitors to ascend the gentle incline surrounding the sculpture. The dome itself can be explored on foot, allowing for panoramic views of the sculpture’s features and the surrounding landscape. The striking fusion of raw steel, open sky, and mathematical symmetry is both imposing and meditative, embodying Herning’s unique fusion of industrial heritage and artistic daring. On windy days, the soundscape is shaped by the whistling of air through the steel columns, blending with the soft hum of distant traffic. At unpredictable moments, the sculpture’s central gas flame erupts, echoing Cronhammar’s intent to surprise and inspire awe. Elia is more than a passive landmark—it is a living artwork where time, light, and even risk are part of the experience. The site is always accessible, and most visitors enjoy the structure free of charge. Nearby, several other works of contemporary art in Birk Centerpark create a clustered enclave for cultural travelers, but nothing rivals Elia’s sense of scale, ambition, and theatricality.

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