Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
WORTH A TRIP
FRØSLEVLEJREN
The town of Padborg (population 4500), right by the German border, is the site of
Frøslevlejren (Frøslev Camp), an internment camp opened near the end of WWII following
negotiations with Germany to keep Danish POWs in Denmark (despite this agreement,
1600 Danish patriots were deported to concentration camps in Germany). During its nine
months in operation, Frøslev held 12,000 prisoners.
Frøslevlejrens Museum
(
www.froeslevlejrensmuseum.dk
; Lejrvej 83; 9am-5pm mid-
Jun-mid-Aug, shorter hrs rest of yr, closed Dec-Jan) tells fascinating stories of the Danish
Resistance movement and daily prison life at Frøslev. If you've visited other German-run
wartime camps, you're in for a surprise here. A shining light among the German POW
camps, Frøslev had ample food, no torture and no executions (prisoners were even al-
lowed one visitor per month). The only real horror was the threat of deportation across
the border. Interestingly, when the war ended, the camp's name was changed and the
new inmates were suspected Nazi collaborators.
Frøslevlejren is on the northwestern outskirts of Padborg, 1km west of the E45 (take
exit 76). Bus 110 connects Sønderborg with Padborg, but there are no buses to the mu-
seum - you'll need to walk or take a taxi the 4km from Padborg.
Als
The island of Als, separated from Jutland by the thin Als Sund, is relatively untouched by
large-scale tourism and provides visitors with a snapshot of a laid-back Danish country
lifestyle. It's a good region for lazy drives or cycling (bus schedules can be erratic). Down
south is where the best beaches lie (nice and sheltered - locals recommend Kegnæs); up
the east coast you'll encounter engaging little villages. And campgrounds are everywhere,
heaving in summer with Danes and Germans.
Information and maps for the area can be obtained from the Sønderborg tourist office.
For island-hoppers there are ferries connecting Fynshav on Als' east coast to Søby on the
island of Ærø (see
www.aeroe-ferry.com
), or to Bøjden on Funen (
www.faergen.dk
).
