Harald Bluetooth's rune stone is the earliest known depiction of Christ in Scandinavia.
The two burial mounds are estimated to contain approximately 40,000 cubic meters of earth each.
A ship-shaped setting of stones once surrounded the site, spanning 350 meters in length.
The Jelling Church currently standing is the fourth structure built on this specific location.
Archaeologists discovered that the site was enclosed by a massive wooden palisade shaped like a triangle, nearly 1.5 kilometers in circumference.
The stones were originally painted in vivid colors, traces of which have been analyzed by researchers.
The site was historically the primary royal seat of the Jelling Dynasty, the ancestors of the current Danish monarchy.
The Jelling Mounds, Runic Stones and Church comprise a UNESCO World Heritage site representing Denmark's transition from paganism to Christianity in the 10th century. The site includes two massive grass-covered burial mounds and two large rune stones dating to the Viking Age. The smaller stone, erected by King Gorm the Old, is the oldest written document of Denmark's unification. The larger stone, commissioned by his son Harald Bluetooth, features a carving of Christ and is often called 'Denmark's birth certificate.' A 12th-century stone church sits between the mounds, built on the site of earlier wooden structures. Recent archaeological excavations revealed a massive triangular palisade fence enclosing the entire monument area. The adjacent Kongernes Jelling exhibition center provides detailed context on the royal dynasty and site excavations. The site spans a significant open-air landscape reflecting the scale of Viking-era power displays.
Between the two rune stones with the church and mounds positioned in the background.
Walk to the top of both mounds for a clear view of the site's layout and the surrounding town.
Spend time at the Kongernes Jelling exhibition center before walking the grounds to understand the archaeological context.
Check the glass-enclosed cases housing the rune stones carefully to see the carvings protected from weather.
Do not attempt to touch or lean on the rune stones as they are fragile and protected by glass structures.
The outdoor monument area is accessible year-round; the exhibition center and interior stone casing facilities may have varying seasonal availability.
Respect the burial mounds by using designated paths; climbing on the grass where signed against is prohibited.
