Café Hvidesøhus

Welcome to Café Hvidesøhus

The beautiful newly restored half-timbered house from 2019 is located right in the butter hole with views of Båldalen, Kongehallen and the Iron Age village and is the perfect place for your break.

Hvidesøhus was built back in 1763 and served as a speakeasy for the area’s rural population. Today it is the setting for Lejre Land of Legends’ café.

As in the good old days, we make most of what you see on the menu and in our cake display cases from scratch. And we try to use seasonal ingredients in our kitchen as much as possible. It makes good sense and not least tastes good when you use the ingredients when they are in season.

We care about ecology, sustainability and food waste because it’s common sense and good for you and our planet.

Dear guest – thank you for buying food and drinks in our historic café Hvidesøhus. By doing so, you contribute to Lejre Land of Legends being able to maintain its non-profit purpose and work: To make history come alive for young and old through our research, education and communication. You are welcome.

Café Hvidesøhus offers a selection of homemade cold and hot lunch dishes based on historical dishes from the early 1900s, Grandma food with a 21st century twist.

We also have delicious sandwiches that can be made to-go, so you can take it with you out and about.

Are you just a little hungry or thirsty? We also offer a fine selection of both hot and cold drinks for guests of all ages. Or how about a homemade cake, a cup of hot organic coffee or maybe even ice cream?

Enjoy the food with a beer from Herslev Bryghus or a glass of mead from Mjødgård.

Café Hvidesøhus is constantly evolving and we strive to make every guest happy. That’s why there will always be a vegetarian dish, plant milk in the fridge and gluten-free cake on the menu.

Food and drink in Lejre Land of Legends

Have you forgotten your packed lunch or can’t be bothered to pack it yourself?

Café Hvidesøhus can do it for you! We are happy to prepare a sandwich bag for you and your family/friends when you go on a trip. That way, you can go back in time and enjoy the food and forget about shopping and packed lunches from home. You’ll be able to buy a bag of sandwiches, fruit, sweets and a soft drink. Or how about having coffee and cake delivered to your event in the countryside?

It will soon be possible to order and pay online for pickup directly in the Café. Until then, send us an email at cafe@sagnlandet.dk

Food and drink in Lejre Land of Legends

The café has room for approx. 50 seated guests inside. Outside we have a lovely large courtyard with tables and benches where you can enjoy your food – both in sun and rain. We’ve set up giant umbrellas with both light and heat, so the wet and cold weather won’t ruin your break.

Seating

If your company is holding a sales meeting, team building or something completely different, contact us and we’ll be happy to arrange your meeting including catering and activities. Find all information about booking events here.

Please note that it is not possible to rent the café during our opening hours.

Corporate events

Give your guests a very special experience in Lejre Land of Legends. We offer guided tours, stories and games from the past with catering from morning to evening, provided by Café Hvidesøhus.

Private events

You are welcome to enjoy your own food in Lejre Land of Legends. There are many opportunities to sit outside and enjoy the landscape and your food at tables and benches around the area.

Bring your own food

You’ll find toilets including baby changing facilities and disabled toilets in the small building by the café and in the welcome center.

Restrooms

It is possible to book a table for you and your small party (from 8-30 people) during Lejre Land of Legends’ opening hours at cafe@sagnlandet.dk – but NOT during the school summer vacation (weeks 26-31).

Let us know which date you want to come and at what time. Please also let us know your thoughts on food and drink for your visit.

You cannot book the tables outside.

Reservation of tables

The story behind Café Hvidesøhus

Hvidsøhus was built between May 1, 1763 and May 1, 1764, we know this because the original drawings from the craftsmen who built the house have been found in the Ledreborg estate archives. The house is located on the grounds of Ledreborg.

The house was to serve as a forester’s house, where the forester would oversee the forest and ensure that no illegal logging was committed. In addition, he was to keep an eye on the forest’s game, “that no poachers appear with dogs, nets or guns in the county’s game fields”. Finally, he was to assist the shooter with the care of the forest, repairing fences, supervising the peat bogs and being useful when clap hunting was held.

A few years later, in 1797, the house ceased to be a forester’s house and became an ordinary smallholding, when Jens Christiansen from Bregentved was granted a lease on Hvidesøhus. The house had 8 acres of land where rye, oats, barley and peas were harvested. They had horses, cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. Husband Jens Christiansen was married 3 times and had a total of 9 children, several of whom died in infancy.

Jens Christiansen had an unfortunate death in November 1836 when the house was burglarized on the night of the 7th. Jens’ wife Maren Kirstine says that she woke up in the evening to someone grabbing the lid of her coffin. She called out to her husband, who was lying in the other bed in the living room. He didn’t answer, but then he suddenly started moaning and complaining. When she then asked if he was ill, someone came over to her bed and grabbed her around the neck with both hands “so that she completely lost her tongue”.
The couple’s son Niels, who was sleeping in the room next to the living room, had woken up to hear his parents screaming. When he entered the room, the thief fled. Jens Christiansen had been so badly beaten by the burglar “that he was constantly spitting up blood” and four days later he died from his injuries. The thief, named Søren Sørensen, was convicted the following year of robbery in connection with burglary and theft.

From 1798 until 1928, the house was inhabited by descendants of Jens and Maren.