Walking tour on Gendarmstien between Cathrinesminde Teglværk and Skelde Kobbelskov

Brick art

Here in March the walking tour along Gendarmstien (The Gendarme Path) started again after the Winter with the fourth distance. Gendarmstien is a walking path of 74 km between Padborg and Høruphav. Gendarmstien is located on the boarder between Denmark and Germany, and is where the boarder control force (Gendarmes) walk on foot between 1920 and 1958, after the relocation of the boarder between Denmark and Germany took place in 1920 based on the results of the boarder vote.

On the third part of the tour we walked between Gråsten Slot and Cathrinesminde Teglværk along the Northern side of the Fjord of Flensborg. The North side of the fjord is Danish, while the South part of the side is German.

So this time we started at Cathrinesminde Teglværk  ( the ending point of the third tour), where we got an an introduction to Catherinesminde Teglværk (brick yard). It was impressive to see the size of the old furnace for burning of the bricks. However, the most amazing thing was to see the three working homes for the brickyard workers anno 1870, 1930 and 1960, so see the progress in living conditions for the hard working people ending up with vacuum cleaner, TV and lawn in the garden, as the vegetable garden was not necessary any more.

Brickwork variation

The old ring furnace

Living room anno 1870 for brickyard workers

Kitchen anno 1870

Kitchen anno 1960 for brickyard workers

Living room anno 1960 

Beach with bricks leftovers around the area of Egernsund 

After the sight seeing we starter our 16 km long walk in drizzling and strong wind, which fortunately enough was coming from behind. We were actually filmed by a regional TV station (TV Syd) on our walking tour, so I could in the evening enjoy my very own 15 seconds of fame leading the walker´s pack !!!!

More normal coastline, but still brick leftovers can be found

It is also amazing to see, how all the leftovers of bricks coming from the many years of brick production and transportation on the fjord of Flensborg is dominating the coastline around the area of Egernsund. However, the brick leftovers can still be found as small souvenirs on the rest of the coastline of Flensborg Fjord.

Fairytale path

Some part of the walking tour was on a small foot path in a woodland area on hillside, where you are having the impression, that you are walking in fairytale land and then suddenly you can hear a strange noise coming out of nowhere. It turned out to the noise of busy windmill wings !!!








At the end of the tour we walking approx 2 kms on a very stony coastline. I really dislike walking on such a stony surface, as it is difficult to find a rhyme in your walking, as your foot suddenly is gliding on the stones. However, we ended the tour walking through Skelde Kobbelskov, a typical Danish beech forest with blankets of wood anemones covering the forest floor. And from Skelde Kobbelskov we had a wonderful view over the bay of Sønderborg to the very city of Sønderborg. It was also meant, that we finally had left Flensborg Fjord.

Coastline at Kobbelskov

Blooming wood anemones - so spring is here

The fifth tour will take part in April 2014, where we will start with a guided tour at Dybbøl Mølle - the most historical site of the Southern part of Jutland.