FÆNGSLET – The Former State Prison of Horsens

A vast former state prison in Horsens, transformed into an immersive museum, hostel and cultural venue where life behind bars is explored within intact cell blocks.

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FÆNGSLET

FÆNGSLET in Horsens is a vast former state prison turned cultural powerhouse, where heavy walls, iron gates and long corridors now house one of Europe’s most distinctive prison museums, a hostel, café and event spaces. Step into restored cell wings, follow dramatic escape stories such as Carl August Lorentzen’s tunnel, and explore more than 150 years of Danish penal history through immersive sound and light installations. Families, history fans and event guests all share this raw yet thoughtfully curated complex.

A brief summary to FÆNGSLET

Fussingsvej 8, Horsens, 8700, DK
+4576100011
Visit website
Duration: 2.5 to 5 hours
Mid ranged
Mixed
Mobile reception: 4 out of 5

Local tips

Allow at least three hours for the museum; the stories, installations and tunnel exhibit take longer to absorb than many visitors expect.
Bring a light layer: some cell blocks and corridors can feel noticeably cooler than outside, even in summer.
If you plan to stay at SleepIn FÆNGSLET, book well in advance during school holidays and major local events.
Families should look for activity materials, kids’ tasks and interactive installations that make the heavy subject matter more accessible.
Pause for a meal or coffee at Brasseriet FÆNGSLET to experience the contrast between cosy dining and the stark prison architecture.

Getting There

Regional train and local bus from Aarhus

From Aarhus, take a regional train to Horsens Station, a journey of about 30–40 minutes with frequent departures throughout the day. Outside the station, local buses run toward the Fussingsvej area; expect a 10–15 minute ride plus a short walk. A standard one‑way adult train ticket typically costs around 80–110 DKK, and the local bus fare is usually in the 20–30 DKK range, payable by travel card or contactless options.
Car from Vejle and surrounding Jutland

Driving from Vejle to Horsens takes roughly 25–35 minutes via major routes, with similar times from nearby Jutland towns. Once in Horsens, follow signs toward the former state prison district; the complex is large and clearly recognizable. Expect standard urban traffic conditions and plan extra time during weekday peaks. Parking is generally available near the site, sometimes with time limits or fees, usually in the range of 10–20 DKK per hour in paid zones.
Cycling from central Horsens

From Horsens city centre, cycling to FÆNGSLET typically takes 10–20 minutes, depending on your starting point. The city has a mix of cycle lanes and calmer streets, and the route involves gentle gradients suitable for most riders. This option is free, environmentally friendly and convenient if you are staying nearby, though weather and wind can strongly influence comfort, especially outside the summer season.

FÆNGSLET location weather suitability

Any Weather
Rain / Wet Weather
Cold Weather
Mild Temperatures

Discover more about FÆNGSLET

From state prison to cultural landmark

FÆNGSLET occupies the grounds of the former Horsens State Prison, a monumental 19th‑century complex that for more than 150 years housed Denmark’s inmates behind high walls and barbed wire. Today the gates still creak, the watchtowers still loom and the cell blocks remain intact, but the purpose has shifted from confinement to curiosity. Much of the original architecture has been preserved, so as you move through the site you sense how little separates the present from the decades when this was a closed world. The transformation has been careful rather than cosmetic. Stairwells, exercise yards and corridors retain their stark, institutional character, while new lighting, discreet signage and exhibition design reveal stories that were once hidden. Instead of guards and prisoners, you now share the space with museum visitors, conference delegates and overnight guests, all experiencing different facets of the same powerful setting.

Inside the prison museum’s locked past

At the heart of the complex lies the award‑winning prison museum, which offers an unusually direct look at life behind bars. Exhibitions combine original cells with multimedia installations, voices of former staff and inmates, and objects that tell of everyday routines, punishments and small rebellions. You can step into solitary confinement, examine the strict rules that governed each day and sense how architecture was used to control movement and time. One of the most compelling stories is that of escape artist Carl August Lorentzen, whose hand‑dug tunnel under the prison wall has been recreated in full length. Walking alongside this feat of determination reveals both the ingenuity of a single prisoner and the constant tension between control and freedom. Other sections explore themes such as organized crime, rehabilitation and changing ideas about justice, set against the backdrop of Denmark’s social history.

Sleeping in a former cell block

Part of the old infirmary has been converted into SleepIn FÆNGSLET, a simple but atmospheric hostel where rooms are former cells. Bunk beds, narrow windows and heavy doors preserve the feel of incarceration, while modern bedding and shared facilities keep the experience comfortable. Spending the night on site adds a different dimension: when the daytime activity fades and the courtyards fall quiet, the scale of the complex and the echo of its stories feel more intense. Corridors that held whispered conversations and clanging keys now accommodate backpackers, school groups and curious couples. It is possible to wake to the same view of walls and sky that once greeted prisoners each morning, yet step out into a day defined by freedom rather than routine. This contrast between past function and present use is one of the most memorable aspects of a stay here.

Café dining and events behind the walls

In the former administrative wing you find Brasseriet FÆNGSLET, the on‑site café and brasserie that serves meals and drinks in stripped‑back, high‑ceilinged rooms. Exposed brick, barred windows and simple furnishings frame plates of contemporary Danish comfort food, making the setting as much a part of the experience as the menu. You can visit the café independently of the museum and linger over lunch while the prison yards sit just beyond the glass. Elsewhere in the complex, repurposed workshops, halls and outdoor courtyards host conferences, concerts, teambuilding activities and cultural events. Meeting rooms occupy former cell areas, and larger gatherings take place in spaces where hundreds once assembled under very different circumstances. Throughout, the organizers use the raw backdrop to create programs that play with themes of boundaries, cooperation and transformation.

Atmosphere, scale and practical visit details

The atmosphere inside FÆNGSLET is strikingly layered. It is undeniably heavy, with massive brick walls and narrow wings channelling sound and light, yet the presence of families, school groups and creative events adds energy and even playfulness. Children can engage with interactive exhibits and themed activities, while adults dive deeper into questions of punishment, ethics and social change. The site is extensive, and it rewards slow exploration. You can easily spend several hours moving between the open yards, museum floors and café, or combine a daytime visit with an overnight stay. Basic amenities such as restrooms, seating, information panels and access to drinking water are available within the complex. Mobile reception is generally reliable, but once you step into the thicker‑walled interiors, it is the weight of history rather than a screen that tends to hold your attention.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Horsens Tourist Information Centre

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Bilka Horsens

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Jættestuen grønhøj

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Genforeningssten på Ejer Bavnehøj

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Ejer Bavnehøj

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Ejerbavnehøj MØDESTED

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H.C. Andersen bench

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Bestig Himmelbjerget

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Folkemøde Mindesten anno 1839

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Denmark's first democratic gathering, 1839—where ordinary citizens claimed their political voice.

Vejle Vindmølle

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Historic windmill turned art gallery with panoramic city views and rotating contemporary exhibitions.

Unmissable attractions to see

Befrielsessten i Horsens

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Lilian's tree

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Ancient tree, riverside serenity, and family-friendly art in Horsens' most beloved waterfront escape.

Bygholm Park

1.2 km

Leafy manor grounds that blend playgrounds, picnics and lakeside trails into Horsens’ most effortless everyday escape.

Mindesten for Det Slesvigske Kyrasserregiment

1.2 km

A modest forest memorial stone that quietly recalls Horsens’ century as a cavalry garrison town and the legacy of Det Slesvigske Kyrasserregiment.

Mindesten for Det Slesvigske Kyrasserregiment

Comwell Bygholm Park

1.2 km

Historic manor‑house hotel in Horsens’ Bygholm Park, blending stately 18th‑century charm with modern comfort, leafy parkland, family‑friendly space and easy city access.

Horsens Banegård Park

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A compact green pause beside Horsens railway station, where commuters, locals and dog walkers share a simple slice of lawn, trees and benches in the city’s busy heart.

Ulvedalen

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A small, forested ravine on Horsens’ edge where woodland paths, gentle hills and playful “Naturetales” walks turn an ordinary outing into a quiet, story-filled escape.

Mindesten for Niels Sørensen

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Bygholm Park Legeplads

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Leafy, relaxed playground in Horsens’ Bygholm Park, where classic swings and nature play meet lawns, lakes and easygoing family time in the manor’s green oasis.

Vitus Beringsparken

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A compact 1950s city park in central Horsens, Vitus Beringsparken blends green lawns, rhododendrons and local history into a quiet pause between station and shops.

Dyrskuepladsen

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Expansive fairground on Horsens’ edge, transforming from quiet open fields into a lively world of markets, livestock shows, funfair rides and local rural life.

Church of Our Saviour

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Horsens Holder

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Horsens Garden

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Rådhusparken

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Restaurant Munken

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Nightclubs & after hour spots

Scandic Opus Horsens

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Horsens' premier line dancing venue where beginners and advanced dancers unite in movement and community.

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Riverboat Jazz Festival

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Kedelhuset

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KLUB22

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FÆNGSLET – The Former State Prison of Horsens

A brief summary to FÆNGSLET

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Regional train and local bus from Aarhus

Car from Vejle and surrounding Jutland

Cycling from central Horsens

FÆNGSLET location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of FÆNGSLET

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about FÆNGSLET

From state prison to cultural landmark

Inside the prison museum’s locked past

Sleeping in a former cell block

Café dining and events behind the walls

Atmosphere, scale and practical visit details

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Horsens Tourist Information Centre

Bilka Horsens

Jættestuen grønhøj

Årtusindeskifte Eg

Genforeningssten på Ejer Bavnehøj

Ejer Bavnehøj

Ejerbavnehøj MØDESTED

Det gamle vandtårn

The Midgård Well

VisitVejle

Vejle Art Museum

H.C. Andersen bench

Bestig Himmelbjerget

Folkemøde Mindesten anno 1839

Vejle Vindmølle

Unmissable attractions to see

Befrielsessten i Horsens

Lilian's tree

Bygholm Park

Mindesten for Det Slesvigske Kyrasserregiment

Comwell Bygholm Park

Horsens Banegård Park

Ulvedalen

Mindesten for Niels Sørensen

Bygholm Park Legeplads

Vitus Beringsparken

Dyrskuepladsen

Church of Our Saviour

Horsens Holder

Horsens Garden

Rådhusparken

Essential places to dine

Restaurant Kystens Perle

Restaurant Oksen

Ji-Mi's

Restaurant Mamma's

rundtenom

Kamii Horsens

Amalielund Mad - Horsens

GRAN Social

Jacobs Vin & Tapas

Cafe Vivaldi

Restaurant Eydes

Corfitz restaurant - bar

Hien's Vietnamesisk Køkken

Det Ny Kronborg

Restaurant Munken

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

Blåmst

Kronhjort Galleri

MÅNESØSTER.DK

Sinnerup

Normal

Bryghus Horsens A/S

H&M

Rituals

Hugo

Boutique Mary

Kings & Queens Horsens

By Mie