The Draget, a narrow strip of land between Mols and Helgenæs, is a place where history has unfolded for over a thousand years. Imagine yourself standing on this isthmus, looking out over the rolling hills and the shimmering water. You can almost feel the whispers of the past, carried on the wind.
The Vikings, those fierce seafarers, once dragged their longships across this very land. They used the Draget as a shortcut to avoid sailing around the Helgenæs peninsula. They left their mark on the land, and their stories continue to resonate in the landscape.
In the 13th century, a powerful man named Marsk Stig owned Helgenæs. He may have built the Dragsmur, a stone and earth bank, as a defensive barrier. The outlaws, fleeing after the murder of King Erik Klipping, settled nearby, turning to piracy and counterfeiting. Their deeds added another layer of intrigue to the Draget’s history.
But it was General Rye who truly made the Draget a strategic point. In 1849, during the First Schleswig War, he erected impressive ramparts as a bulwark against the Germans. His strategic genius ensured that the Draget played a vital role in Denmark’s defence.
The Draget is a place where history lives. As you stand here, surrounded by the whispers of the past, you can feel the weight of time pressing down on you. This is a place where Vikings, outlaws, and generals have all played their part in shaping the landscape. And it is a place that continues to hold the stories of the past, waiting to be discovered.