Solgårdsparken

A seaside escape between bay and river

Solgårdsparken stretches like a green peninsula between Køge Bay and the calm waters of Tryggevælde Å, a short distance south of Køge in Strøby Egede. Here, salty breezes from the bay mingle with the damp scent of meadows and woodland, giving the park a distinctly coastal feel. From some paths you catch glimpses of water on both sides, while others sink into leafy shelter where birdsong and rustling leaves drown out the outside world. The terrain is gently undulating with open lawns, small hills, canals and ponds, stitched together by a network of gravel paths and narrow bridges. The setting feels carefully composed yet never stiff, inviting you to wander rather than march from sight to sight. Even on cooler days, the combination of water, trees and big skies makes this an evocative place for a slow walk.

From seaside villa to atmospheric landscape garden

Solgårdsparken grew up around the grand white seaside villa Solgården, once a fashionable retreat along the old coastal road. In the early 20th century the owner purchased surrounding land and shaped it into a romantic landscape garden with sweeping lawns, tree-lined avenues, canals, lakes, small temples, sculptures, bridges, pavilions and ornamental planting. The idea was to create a kind of private pleasure park with shifting moods and vistas. Later the estate took on a very different role when it was transformed into a treatment home. Tuberculosis patients once rested in a large open-sided hall that caught sun and fresh air; today that long structure survives as a distinctive shelter-like space and a characterful spot for picnics and events. Over decades the main villa was eventually demolished and the garden partly overgrew, before municipal efforts and local engagement brought the park back as a public green haven.

Hidden corners, statues and playful details

As you explore, you move through a sequence of small scenes. One moment you are crossing a narrow bridge over dark water with overhanging branches reflecting in the surface; the next you step into a clearing framed by old trees and a solitary statue. Remnants of the original romantic design remain in small temples, sculptural ornaments and viewpoints carefully placed to surprise you around bends in the path. Within the grounds you also find more informal areas that feel almost like countryside: meadows buzzing with insects in summer, thickets where birds flit in and out of view, and edges where the park melts into woodland and shore. The mix of cultivated garden features and looser nature gives Solgårdsparken a layered charm and plenty of reasons to linger.

Everyday recreation for all ages

Despite its historic bones, Solgårdsparken functions very much as a living local park. Families gravitate to the playground and open lawns, where there is room for games, blankets and unhurried afternoons. A designated dog forest lets four-legged visitors run more freely, while the water channels and lakes add a calming backdrop for anyone simply strolling or sitting with a book. Picnic tables and benches are dotted across the grounds, including near shelters and a firepit where small groups can gather. Barbecue facilities and open grassy spaces make the park well suited to social outings, and there is even a spot for launching canoes into the river. The variety of settings allows you to choose between lively clearings and quiet corners, depending on your mood.

Stories in your ears and nature at your feet

One of Solgårdsparken’s most distinctive features is a curated series of audio stories woven into the landscape. At selected spots you will find discrete signs with QR codes beside benches. Scan one, sit down and you are drawn into a short narrative that mixes park history, reflections on nature and gentle invitations to observe your surroundings more closely. Each story stands alone, so you can listen to a single tale or follow several as a kind of meditative walk. Beyond the audio experience, the park’s botanic variety rewards close attention. Old trees tower above younger plantings, and pockets of more experimental or ornamental planting echo the original botanical ambitions of the estate. Combined with the proximity to both bay and river, this makes Solgårdsparken a serene place to tune into seasonal change, from spring blossoms and summer greenery to autumn colour and the stripped-back silhouettes of winter.