Carlsstenen – Grønnessedyssen Megalith in Grønnesse Forest
A quiet Stone Age dolmen deep in Grønnesse Forest, where a huge glacial boulder crowns an ancient tomb once chosen to grace Denmark’s five-kroner banknote.
Hidden among the tall trees of Grønnesse Forest near Hundested, Carlsstenen – also known as Grønnessedyssen – is an evocative Stone Age dolmen crowned by a huge glacial boulder. Raised around 3500 BCE, this megalithic tomb combines raw granite drama with soft woodland atmosphere. Once featured on a Danish banknote, it offers a quiet, atmospheric glimpse into prehistoric ritual life, set just inland from the shores of Roskilde Fjord and close to the historic Grønnessegaard estate.
A brief summary to Carlsstenen - Grønnessedyssen
- Hundested, DK
- Duration: 0.5 to 1.5 hours
- Free
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Outdoor
- Mobile reception: 3 out of 5
- 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
- Wear sturdy, preferably waterproof shoes; the forest paths and clearing around the dolmen can be soft or muddy after rain.
- Combine a visit with a walk toward Roskilde Fjord or around Grønnesse Forest to appreciate how the monument relates to the wider landscape.
- Aim for early morning or late afternoon for the most atmospheric light through the trees and quieter conditions around the stones.
- Bring a light jacket even in summer; under the tall trees the temperature and wind conditions can differ from open areas nearby.
For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you
- Information Boards
Getting There
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Car from Hundested
From central Hundested, reaching Grønnesse Forest and Carlsstenen by car typically takes about 10–15 minutes, following the main regional road toward Frederiksværk and then local forest access roads. Parking is usually free in the designated forest car parks, but spaces can become busy on fine summer weekends and during school holidays, so allow a little extra time to find a spot.
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Bus and short forest walk from Frederiksværk or Hundested
Regional buses between Frederiksværk and Hundested stop near the forest along the main road; the journey from either town normally takes 15–25 minutes depending on the route and timetable. Single tickets are generally in the range of 25–40 DKK for adults, with discounts for children and travel cards. From the stop, expect a pleasant walk on unpaved forest paths, which can be uneven and muddy in wet weather and may not suit all mobility levels.
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Cycling through Halsnæs countryside
Cycling from Hundested or Frederiksværk to Grønnesse Forest is a scenic option, taking around 20–35 minutes each way depending on your starting point and pace. The route uses a mix of local roads and, in places, shared paths; surfaces vary from asphalt to compacted gravel. There is no dedicated bike parking at the dolmen itself, but you can leave bicycles discreetly near the forest track while you explore on foot.
Carlsstenen - Grønnessedyssen location weather suitability
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Any Weather
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Clear Skies
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Mild Temperatures
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Cold Weather
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Hot Weather
Discover more about Carlsstenen - Grønnessedyssen
Ancient stones in a quiet Danish forest
Carlsstenen – Grønnessedyssen sits in a clearing of Grønnesse Forest, a short distance inland from Roskilde Fjord, where the trees briefly step back to reveal a striking megalithic tomb. At its heart lies a massive rounded boulder, a glacial erratic that was carefully positioned as the capstone of a Stone Age chamber. Everything around it feels modest and human in scale, which only amplifies the sense of wonder at how people more than 5,000 years ago worked together to move and raise such a weight. The tomb belongs to the early Neolithic period, roughly around 3500 BCE, when farming communities in this part of Zealand began building communal burial monuments in stone and earth. Here, the covering mound has largely weathered away, so the structure of orthostats and capstone stands clearly in the landscape. Moss, lichen and leaf litter soften its outlines, but the composition is still powerful: a deliberate piece of architecture in raw granite, framed by forest.From Neolithic monument to national symbol
For centuries Carlsstenen lay as part of the everyday landscape of Grønnesse, passed by farmers and foresters who knew it simply as an ancient grave. Its story took a new turn in the early twentieth century, when the boulder was chosen as the main motif on a Danish five-kroner banknote issued in 1908. Suddenly this quiet site in Halsnæs became a symbol of national heritage, its image carried in pockets across the country. That choice reflected a growing fascination with Denmark’s prehistoric monuments, seen as tangible links to distant ancestors and to a shared landscape history. Standing beside the stone today, the connection between monument and money feels almost ironic: the dolmen itself asks for nothing, charging no entrance fee, yet it once represented value on every banknote. The only currency here now is time and attention, offered in exchange for a rare sense of continuity.Forest setting and changing light
Part of the appeal of Carlsstenen is its setting in Grønnesse Forest, close to the historic manor of Grønnessegaard. Approaching along the woodland track, you notice how the light shifts, filtered through tall trunks and changing with the season: pale green in spring, deep and cool in summer, rust-coloured in autumn. Birds provide most of the soundscape, with only distant hints of modern life beyond the trees. Around the dolmen, low vegetation and soft forest floor make it easy to walk slowly around the chamber and view it from different angles. Subtle details emerge as you circle: weathered grooves in the granite, the way smaller support stones brace the chamber, and the gentle dip of the surrounding terrain where the original mound once rose. On overcast days the boulder looks darker and more brooding; in bright sun its speckled surface gleams against the shade of the forest.Imagining rituals and everyday lives
Very little is known in detail about the specific community that built Grønnessedyssen, yet the monument itself offers strong clues. Megalithic tombs like this were often collective burial places, used over generations. People would have gathered here for ceremonies linked to death, remembrance and perhaps seasonal cycles. The choice of such an imposing boulder suggests a desire to make the tomb clearly visible in the landscape, a permanent marker tying the living community to its ancestral dead. Standing beside the capstone, it is natural to wonder about the techniques used to move it: probably a combination of rollers, sledges, ropes and earth ramps, powered by many hands and coordinated effort. Equally intriguing is the social organization behind the monument. Constructing such a tomb would have required planning, negotiation and shared belief strong enough to justify the work – a reminder that these forest clearings were once centres of community life, not just remote corners.A gentle, reflective stop in North Zealand
Today Carlsstenen feels like a pause in both time and movement. There are no fences around the dolmen, no built-up visitor centre, only a simple forest setting and the occasional information board nearby in the wider area. It fits naturally into a half-day exploration of Hundested and the Roskilde Fjord shoreline, especially for those interested in archaeology, landscape history or quiet photography. The site rewards unhurried visits: bring a warm layer on cooler days, since the forest shade can feel chilly, and footwear suitable for soft, sometimes muddy paths. There is enough space around the stones for children to explore under supervision, and plenty of subtle vantage points to frame the monument with trunks and canopy. More than a checklist sight, Grønnessedyssen is the kind of place that lingers in memory precisely because so little here has been polished or overexplained.Iconic landmarks you can’t miss
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For the vibe & atmosphere seeker
- Tranquil
- Scenic
- Unique
- Relaxing
For the design and aesthetic lover
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For the architecture buff
- Historic
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For the view chaser and sunset hunter
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- Panoramas
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For the social media creator & influencer
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- Reel-Friendly
For the eco-conscious traveler
- Low Impact
- Public-Transport Accessible
- Leave-No-Trace Critical
- Locally Managed
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For the kind of experience you’re after
- Mindfulness
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For how adventurous you want the journey to be
- Easy Access
Location Audience
- Family Friendly
- Senior Friendly
- Child Friendly
- Teen Friendly
- Solo Friendly
- Couple Friendly
- Solo Female Friendly
