Camp Adventure Forest Tower

The Camp Adventure Forest Tower, known in Danish as Skovtarnet, is one of the most striking pieces of contemporary architecture in the Danish countryside, a 45-metre observation tower that spirals up out of the ancient woodland of Gisselfeld Klosters forests south of Haslev. Completed in 2019 and designed by the Danish studio EFFEKT, its slender hourglass silhouette narrows in the middle and flares at top and bottom, an elegant form that has won architecture awards and was nominated for the European Union's Mies van der Rohe Prize. Standing on gently rolling terrain, its viewing platform reaches around 140 metres above sea level, offering some of the widest views anywhere on flat, forested Zealand.

The experience begins well before the tower itself. Visitors arrive through the forest along an elevated timber boardwalk, roughly 900 metres long, that winds among the treetops and across a boggy hollow, letting you move through the canopy at eye level with the branches. This treetop walk is a highlight in its own right, especially in spring when the beech leaves unfurl and in autumn when the forest turns gold and copper. The boardwalk is designed to tread lightly on the landscape, raised on slim supports so the woodland floor and its plants continue undisturbed beneath.

At the tower, a continuous spiral ramp winds gently upward inside and around the steel lattice structure, so the ascent is a slow, unfolding reveal rather than a climb. Crucially, the ramp makes the whole tower accessible to wheelchairs and pushchairs right to the summit, a rare thing for a viewpoint of this height. From the top the panorama stretches across an unbroken sea of treetops to distant fields, lakes and, on clear days, glimpses of the coast. The sensation of standing above the forest canopy, with the wind moving the trees below, is genuinely memorable.

The tower is part of the wider Camp Adventure park, which also runs one of Denmark's largest treetop climbing courses, with high-ropes routes and a long zip line threaded through the same forest. Families can combine a gentle walk to the tower with more adventurous activities, and there is a cafe, shop and picnic areas at the base. The setting within a working monastery forest gives the whole place a deep sense of nature and calm.

Practical planning matters here. The park lies about an hour's drive south of Copenhagen and is most easily reached by car, as public transport to the site is limited. Opening hours are seasonal, with longer days in summer and reduced access in winter, so it is worth checking ahead and booking tickets online. Wear sturdy shoes for the boardwalk and bring a jacket, as it is noticeably cooler and windier at the top. Aim for a clear day, ideally in autumn, when the light and colour over the forest are at their most spectacular, and you will understand why this quiet corner of Zealand has become one of the country's most photographed landmarks.