Bronzestien – Bronze Age Trail on Køge Ås

Ancient footsteps on the Køge ridge

Bronzestien winds along Køge Ås, the long, raised ridge that forms a natural spine in the landscape west of Køge. Shaped by melting ice at the end of the last Ice Age, this ridge later became a natural route for people, livestock and carts. Today it is a tranquil green corridor, but beneath your feet lies a story that stretches back thousands of years. The name Bronzestien reflects the many Bronze Age traces found on and around the ridge: low burial mounds, scattered finds and former settlement sites that once overlooked wetlands and meadows. Walking here, you follow roughly the same line that prehistoric communities used when moving between farmsteads, ritual sites and grazing land.

Manor landscapes and quiet forest

At Gammel Kjøgegaard the trail passes through one of Denmark’s classic manor landscapes. The estate sits on the ridge with the Køge River curling behind the main house, framed by old trees, fields and smaller woods. Formal avenues near the manor gradually give way to more natural forest paths where roots, leaves and pine needles soften each step. This mix of cultural and natural scenery is part of Bronzestien’s charm. On one side you glimpse tended fields and the outlines of historic buildings; on the other side, dense woodland closes in, with birdsong echoing between trunks. In spring and early summer the forest floor brightens with fresh greens and wildflowers, while autumn brings copper leaves that echo the trail’s Bronze Age name.

Reading the subtle traces of prehistory

Most of the prehistoric remains along Bronzestien are low and unobtrusive rather than dramatic hilltops. Rounded rises in the terrain may mark old burial mounds; slight terraces and banks suggest where houses or fences once stood. Simple information boards in the wider Køge Ås area help you decode these shapes and connect them to life three thousand years ago. The ridge offered Bronze Age people dry ground, overview and a natural line of travel. From here they could watch over fields, herds and wetlands, and move between coastal and inland areas without crossing marshy lowlands. Bronzestien lets you experience that strategic vantage point directly, using only your senses and a little imagination.

A gentle walk close to town

Despite its deep-time atmosphere, Bronzestien lies remarkably close to central Køge. The trail itself is easy-going, with modest gradients and mostly firm surfaces, making it suitable for unhurried strolls, family outings and reflective solo walks. Sections can be muddy after rain, but there are no long, steep climbs. Benches and informal resting spots appear along the ridge, inviting you to pause under the canopy and listen to the river moving below. Because the area is open at all hours, you can choose the mood you prefer: misty mornings when the forest is hushed, bright midday light slanting through leaves, or long summer evenings when the sky glows above the tree line.

Coffee, contemplation and changing seasons

Near Gammel Kjøgegaard, a small seasonal café on the estate adds a pleasant extra incentive for walkers, with coffee and simple refreshments in a garden setting when open. It is easy to combine a loop on Bronzestien with a quiet break here, watching the light shift over fields and manor roofs. Bronzestien rewards repeat visits. In winter the bare trees reveal more of the ridge’s form and the course of the river. In summer the forest becomes a green tunnel, cooler than the surrounding fields. Whatever the season, the trail offers an accessible way to experience how geology, prehistory and historic landownership have shaped this corner of Zealand into a remarkably layered landscape.