The History

Daugbjerg Limestone Mines are more than 1000 years old and are therefore the oldest known limestone mine in Scandinavia.

When mining first began, it was not the lime itself that was important, but the large limestone blocks and flint stones that were used for building foundations and walls of old houses (in the village of Daugbjerg you can still see this building technique on several of the old farms and buildings).

Around the 1200s, Italian monks began producing bricks and the recipe for lime mortar was discovered. Suddenly it became very profitable to extract the lime, even though it was extremely hard work. It could be sold and people could actually make some money from it. In addition to building materials, the lime was also used to whitewash houses, and large stones were still needed for construction.

Children as young as 6 years old could get work in the mines. Together with the women, the children had to carry heavy baskets or boards loaded with lime (up to 15–20 kg at a time). Along the tunnels in the mines there were light sources (torches/lamps) placed every 40 steps, so they often moved through darkness between two lights, delivered their full basket, and walked back through the darkness to collect the next load.

When boys reached the age of 12, they were considered men and began working with hammer and chisel to locate good layers of limestone. After that, the men came with picks and began breaking the limestone free.

When the lime was brought to the surface, it had to be burned to start the chemical reaction. This was done either in large lime kilns or in deep pits where wood, and especially heather, provided the high temperatures needed.

In historical documents from Daugbjerg parish there are no reports of deaths from mine collapses, but people often died at home with dust in their lungs, blinded by lime dust or worn out from the hard labor.

Daugbjerg parish has 22 km of tunnels which were once connected, and the mine open to the public today is the third of the priest’s mines. The priest also had one at Daugbjerg Dås and another opposite the rectory (now the town mechanic’s workshop). According to tradition it was once possible to walk underground from Daugbjerg Dås to Dybdal Forest.

According to geologists, Daugbjerg Limestone Mines were excavated towards the north, south and west, while our large neighbours at Mønsted Limestone Mines were excavated north–south and east. The closest tunnels between the two mines are believed to be about 250 meters apart.

Until 1872, lime from Daugbjerg was transported along the ancient Hærvej route, sold at markets and used locally. However, Ribe Cathedral was also built with lime from Daugbjerg, several large manor houses in northern Germany were built with lime from Daugbjerg, and the great Cologne Cathedral is partly built and decorated with Daugbjerg limestone.

In 1872, Daugbjerg Limestone Mines were closed and the entire production of the high-quality Central Jutland lime was moved to Mønsted. The opening in Dybdal Forest was forgotten until 1921–22 when some of the Vestergaard children were playing and picking wild strawberries, and one of them suddenly put a foot into a large hole. When they dug the hole free, the entrance appeared. Over the years it has been reinforced and made more visitor-friendly, but even back then people could pay to visit the mines through the Vestergaard family.

In the 1960s the ownership of Dybdal Forest changed and the Hildsgaard family took over. Until the mid-1980s it was Georg and Johanne Hildsgaard who ran the place together with local resident Jesper Dahl. Afterwards their son took over and began leasing the operation. Several different tenants and the Hildsgaard family have developed the site, and today Johannes’ granddaughter Anita Hildsgaard is the owner and Carsten Christensen is the tenant.

Daugbjerg Limestone Mines are currently developing with a focus on removing swings, carousels and large neon signs. Instead we want to give visitors an authentic experience where the narrow mine tunnels and the echoes of history can truly be felt by individuals, families and groups. Visitors of all ages should have a good experience here, and therefore several initiatives have been created to accommodate both children and adults.