Deer Park

Dyrehaven, officially Jægersborg Dyrehave and known in English as the Deer Park, is a magnificent royal forest park just north of Copenhagen in the municipality of Lyngby-Taarbæk. Dating back to 1669, it covers around 1,100 hectares of open meadows and ancient oak and beech trees, and in 2015 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the par force hunting landscape in North Zealand. The park is famous above all for its free-roaming deer, with a total herd of around 2,100 animals made up of red, fallow and sika deer that graze among the old trees. All entrances are marked by a characteristic red gate bearing the monarch's insignia; the most popular is Klampenborg gate, directly opposite Klampenborg railway station, and in total 19 red gates give access to the park. At its heart stands Eremitagen, the royal hunting lodge, while at the edge lies Bakken, the world's oldest amusement park. Dyrehaven is also the venue for traditional events such as the Hermitage road race (Eremitageløbet) on the first Sunday of October and the Hubertus hunt on the first Sunday of November. A favourite escape for Copenhageners, the park invites walking, cycling, horse riding and horse-drawn carriage rides, and admission is free. It is easily reached by S-train to Klampenborg, and there are many entrances to choose from. Many paths suit wheelchairs, though some areas are hilly. An insider tip is to rent a bike at Klampenborg station to explore the whole park and visit Eremitagen; autumn brings the dramatic rutting season, and early morning is best for spotting deer.