Gerlevparken & Gerlevparkens Venner

A living rose collection in the Danish countryside

Gerlevparken spreads across around 10 hectares of gently landscaped grounds on the edge of the village of Gerlev near Jægerspris. Created to showcase roses and trees in a park-like setting rather than a formal botanical garden, it feels both cultivated and relaxed. Wide lawns, curved beds and informal hedges create clear sightlines so you can appreciate the planting without it ever feeling rigid or overdesigned. The park is especially renowned for its extensive rose garden, recognised by specialists across Europe for the breadth and quality of its collection. In early summer the air fills with fragrance as old garden roses, climbers and carefully selected cultivars flower in waves, backed by shrubs and trees that extend interest well beyond the main blooming season. Even outside peak flowering, the structure of the beds and the hips, foliage and stems give the area character.

Rare trees, hawthorns and a quiet historic corner

Beyond the roses, Gerlevparken doubles as an open-air arboretum. Paths lead you past an impressive assortment of tree species, with more than a hundred different kinds represented in the wider parkland. Here you move from conifers to exotic broadleaf species and mature native trees, each chosen to demonstrate form, bark, leaf and seasonal colour rather than to impress by sheer size alone. One particularly atmospheric area is the older part of the park, where you find honorary trees planted for individuals who have worked to promote knowledge and use of trees in Denmark. This gives the landscape an added layer of human story: each tree quietly marks a contribution to forestry, horticulture or the environment. You can also explore the park’s hawthorn collection, which at its height held over a hundred different species and varieties in a country where only a handful of hawthorn species occur naturally.

Volunteers, stewardship and everyday atmosphere

Gerlevparken is owned by the Foundation for Trees and Environment, established in the 1970s with the goal of preserving and presenting trees and ornamental plants to the public. Day-to-day care, however, rests largely with Gerlevparkens Venner, a small but dedicated volunteer association that looks after the roses and supports maintenance of the other collections. Their work underpins the park’s quietly tended feel: beds are kept in good order, labels are refreshed and new plantings appear as collections evolve. The atmosphere is unhurried and low-key. You are free to wander on mown paths, pause at benches tucked beside rose beds or under tall trees and simply watch the play of light over leaves and petals. Open lawns invite small picnics, sketching or an hour with a book, while the surrounding farmland and nearby fjordland give a sense of being just outside everyday bustle without feeling remote.

Planning your visit through the seasons

The park is generally accessible during generous daylight opening hours, making it suitable for a short detour or a longer half-day explore. Summer brings the most intense colour, especially from June into early July when many roses reach their peak, but late spring and early autumn can be just as rewarding if you are more interested in the trees, structure and changing light. In winter, the mood shifts to bare branches, silhouettes and quiet, with the layout of the collections easiest to read. Facilities are simple rather than elaborate, with a focus on the landscape itself rather than on built attractions. You should come prepared for an outdoor visit: comfortable footwear for walking on grass and gravel, layers against changing weather and perhaps a thermos or light picnic. Information on current activities is typically provided by the foundation and the friends association, which also organise occasional themed events in the park.

Who will enjoy Gerlevparken most

Gerlevparken suits travellers who enjoy gentle discovery rather than big-ticket sights. Plant lovers will find plenty to study in the rose and tree collections, but you do not need specialist knowledge to appreciate the colours, scents and quiet order. Couples can treat it as a peaceful, romantic stroll; families with patient children can use the open lawns and paths for low-key play and nature observation. It also works well as a contemplative stop on a wider tour of Fjordlandet, pairing easily with historic sites and coastal views nearby. Whether you stay for an hour or linger for most of a day, the park offers space to slow down, notice details in bark and blossom and experience a piece of Danish horticultural heritage that is still very much alive and evolving.