Solgårdparken, Køge Travel Guide

Solgårdparken stretches between Køge Bay and the winding Tryggevælde River on northern Stevns, creating a green buffer between village streets and open water. Paths weave through lawns, groves and small clearings, with glimpses of the bay, reeds and meadows appearing between trees. The scale feels generous but intimate, more like a country estate than a city park, and it remains open at all hours without formal gates or ticket booths.The park covers roughly 20 tønder land, originally shaped as a romantic landscape garden. Long sight lines, gently curving canals, small lakes and ornamental islands create a sense of walking through a painting. The terrain is mostly flat and easy underfoot, welcoming for slow strolls and families, yet varied enough to reward aimless wandering.

Solgårdparken began in the early 1900s, when playwright Karen Bramson built her villa, Solgården, here. A little later, in 1917, the estate was transformed by shipping magnate Marius Nielsen, who acquired additional land and commissioned an ambitious romantic garden. He added avenues, grand lawns, water features, bridges, temples and sculptures that still define the park’s character.Later in the 20th century the site took on a very different role, becoming a health facility and treatment home owned by Copenhagen authorities. Large open-air pavilions were built so tuberculosis patients could rest outside in fresh air. One of these long, covered “lying halls” survives, now repurposed as an atmospheric shelter for picnics and gatherings, a tangible reminder of the park’s social history.

When institutional use ended, the main house was eventually demolished and the grounds slipped into neglect. For a time, trees and shrubs grew wild, and water features silted up. The potential of the original design was still visible, but it took concerted effort to bring it back.Today Solgårdparken is maintained in close cooperation with local volunteers, creating a careful balance between manicured spaces and semi-wild corners. Restoration has reopened views, revived canals and preserved architectural fragments such as small temples, steps and sculptures. The result is a park that feels both historic and lived‑in, a shared local project rather than a museum piece.

Beyond its ornamental structures, Solgårdparken functions as a versatile outdoor playground and nature escape. There is a dedicated dog forest where dogs can run off-leash, a playground for children, shelters for overnight stays, fire pits and grills, and easy access to the nearby beach if you fancy a swim. Meadow areas and riverbanks attract birds, insects and small mammals, rewarding quiet observation.Benches and picnic tables are scattered throughout, from sunny lawns to secluded nooks under large old trees. The combination of water, mature plantings and open sky makes the park appealing in all seasons, from spring blossom through summer shade to winter stillness.

One of Solgårdparken’s most distinctive features is its series of free audio stories, available via QR codes on discreet signs fixed to benches at key spots. Each track is tied to its specific location and invites you to sit, listen and then explore with new awareness of the history, design and nature around you.The narratives, produced locally, weave together personal reflections, cultural history and observations of plants and wildlife. Episodes can be enjoyed individually or as a loose route through the park, turning a simple walk into a gentle, reflective experience that lingers after you leave.

As daylight fades, Solgårdparken takes on a more mysterious air, with water surfaces darkening and statues half‑hidden among trees. On some evenings the park hosts events such as Halloween walks and small cultural gatherings, using its paths and pavilions as an atmospheric backdrop.Even on ordinary days, the mood shifts with the weather: sparkling and open on bright mornings, wind‑ruffled along the bay on blustery days, and enveloping under low clouds. Whether you come for an hour’s walk, a family outing or quiet contemplation on a bench, Solgårdparken offers a surprisingly layered escape just south of Køge.