Rømer’s milestones
A speciel feature of Klosterheden is the presence of old milestones along the central road of the plantation known as Gammel Landevej (translated: The Old Highway). The road was probably built during the wars in the 1600s when German and Swedish troops used it for transport. In the period from 1691 to 1697 Ole Rømer, a Danish scientist known for, amongst other things, being the first to measure the speed of light, was assigned to measure the road system of Denmark. For this purpose he invented a special distance-measuring cart – a hodometer - and milestones were erected for every quarter of a Danish mile.
Cooperation With the Aspiring Geopark
The Nature Agency and thus the Ministry of Environment is a major land owner and a very important partner in the development of the geopark. The local head forester has been a member of the Steering Group for the geopark from the beginning. Klosterheden Plantation, and many of the other areas owned by the Nature Agency, have recreational routes and facilities and offer both guided and unguided outdoor experiences. Some of the more popular guided tours are beaver and red deer safaris (Fig N19-3).