Lejre Land of Legends receives 52 million DKK

A generous donation of DKK 52.3 million from Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs’ Foundations underlines Lejre Land of Legends’ position as one of Zealand’s leading cultural attractions and makes it possible for the Educational Activity Center to offer guests of all ages even more quality experiences with a focus on culture and nature.

330 meters of walkway between treetops, moraine hills and with views of wild boar and aurochs. A winter stable with opportunities for school visits and learning up close to sheep, oxen and goats. And a custom-designed exhibition and education building that encourages immersion and shared family experiences.

These are the three major gifts that Lejre Land of Legends has just received from Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs’ Foundation, which was founded by the married couple Annie and the late Otto Johs. Detlefs. For almost 20 years, the foundations have supported Danish cultural life, says Lars Holten, the happy, proud and not least grateful director of Lejre Land of Legends:

-“It’s a fantastic gift that will enhance the entire communication of our animal husbandry and natural landscape across all historical eras in Lejre Land of Legends,” says Lars Holten and elaborates:

-“The walkway, which we call ‘The Wild Road’, will be a 330 meter long wooden walkway that will start at our costume workshop. From here, the path winds its way in a slight incline across both valley bottoms and around the landscape’s moraine hills, so that along the way you’ll find yourself both at ground level and right up among treetops at a height of 5-6 meters. From ‘The Wild Road’, our guests enjoy unique panoramic views of our animal pens. These include wild boars, which have a long and exciting cultural history. For thousands of years, they have been important hunting prey and have been part of the Stone Age hunter’s menu and a royal hunting trophy for Viking and medieval kings.

‘The Wild Road’ compensates for the large terrain gradients in Lejre Land of Legends’ beautiful Ice Age landscape and therefore makes it possible for people with walking difficulties and guests in wheelchairs to reach some of the most beautiful and highest areas in Lejre Land of Legends, including the idyllic 19th century environment, Krikkebjerg Huse:

-In our 19th century environment, the funds also ensure the establishment of a lovely, scenic and recreational lunch oasis. Here, adults can sit and enjoy their thermos coffee while the family’s youngest children climb the farmer’s cow, goat, goose and horse in the form of beautiful climbing animals. They can also meet the boar’s modern cousin, the black-browed pig from the 1800s.

The walkway and indoor square meters strengthen the work and attractiveness of Lejre Land of Legends.
In addition to the new footpath, the foundation’s generous donation will go towards a modern winter stable with the possibility of school visits during the winter months and a specially designed 326 square meter educational and exhibition building. It was designed by Wohlert Architects, who are also behind the famous Louisiana Art Museum:

-“We call the building ‘The Green House’. It will be a unique and flexible exhibition space heated with sustainable energy and beautifully integrated into the hills of the landscape. Here, too, it will be about communicating animals and landscape across time and space in Lejre Land of Legends,” says the director and explains that the exhibition design focuses on being a family experience that can fascinate all ages, not least children aged 3 to 12:

-“In line with Lejre Land of Legends’ DNA, the exhibition should invite you to touch things and play your way to knowledge. Among other things, this will be done via a special activity course ‘Animal Challenge’, where you compete together on motor skills, speed and knowledge. It will bring smiles and laughter,” says an enthusiastic director.

Fund investments combined with municipal support are crucial
A strong and varied range of cultural offerings is indispensable for us as humans to both thrive and be part of communities that strengthen society. That’s why it’s particularly important for the director of Lejre Land of Legends to thank all those who make it possible for the cultural industry to create quality content and communication in a class of its own.

-That there are such generous foundations and patrons as Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs’ Foundations in Denmark is a gift for the cultural sector. The foundations’ activities and investments are crucial for the development of cultural offerings in Denmark today,” he emphasizes and adds:

– “When you go out and raise funds from private foundations as a cultural operator, it is also important that you can demonstrate strong public ownership in the form of operating grants and local support. At Lejre Land of Legends, we are privileged to have had a good and strong collaboration with Lejre Municipality’s politicians and civil servants for many years. Thanks to the municipality’s operating subsidy, we have the foundation that ensures that we, as a workplace, have the skills required to carry out major development and construction projects,” says the director and elaborates:

-“Over the past 15 years, we at Lejre Land of Legends have managed to raise DKK 200 million in funding, which enriches the municipality and citizens with a vibrant cultural institution that also brands the entire area both in Denmark and abroad. We are very happy that our local politicians recognize the value of this,” says the proud director of Sagnland.

At the same time, he emphasizes that the current foundation donation not only strengthens communication. It also makes it possible to work on extending Lejre Land of Legends’ opening hours throughout the year:

-“One of the great things about the large donation from Annie & Otto Johs. Detlefs’ Foundations is that it contributes to increasing the accessibility of our vast landscape both physically and digitally in combination with more indoor facilities. Quite simply, we will have more different experiences to offer that are also attractive to experience outside the summer months and can therefore attract guests in the shoulder seasons, when both temperature and rain fall in Denmark.

Director of Lejre Land of Legends Lars Holten with the landscape model for ‘The Wild Road’.

Landscape plan, ‘The Wild Road’ in Lejre Land of Legends, designed by Wohlert arkitekter.

Architectural sketch, the communication and exhibition building ‘The Green House’, Wohlert Architects.

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