Mølleåen (alsoMølleå, the indefinitive form) sometimes translated as theMillstream, is a small, slow running river or stream inNorth Zealand, Denmark, which runs 36 kilometres (22 mi) from the west of Bastrup Sø nearLynge to theØresund betweenTaarbæk andSkodsborg.[1] The river bed contains several country houses and a series of mills which initiated Denmark's industrial development.
The source of the river is Hettings Mose between the lakes of Buresø and Bastrup Sø. Over the next 30 kilometres (19 mi), the river drops 29 metres (95 ft) until it reaches the sea. After Bastrup Sø, the river runs through a swampy area to Farum Sø. The following section is called "Fiskebæk Å", passing under the Hillerød motorhighway (E16) and Frederiksborgsvej before reaching Denmark's deepest lake,Furesø, with a depth of 38 metres (125 ft).[2]
The natural course of the stream between Furesøen and Nybro was changed as part of fortification works in the period 1885–1894 and is totally straight,[3] the only remnant of these defenses.
After passing through Frederiksdal Storskov, the river runs under Nybrovej until it runs into the lake of Lyngby Sø. Between here and the sea, the river falls a further 20 m (66 ft), providing excellent opportunities for water mills. The river winds through the gardens ofSorgenfri Palace to Fuglevad water mill which later became part of theBrede Copper Works. The river then continues to the north past the Frilandsmuseum and on toBrede Museum. It then proceeds past Øhrholm and Ravneholm to Nymølle, used to hammer copper and brass from the mid-17th century. It then flows under theHelsingør Motorway to Stampen where priviously a textile factory, a flour mill and a bakery used to exist. After passing throughRaadvad, the Mølleåen finally arrives at Strandmøllen before reaching the Øresund.[2]
As early as theViking Age, the river was used for milling.[4] From theMiddle Ages, the water power of the river was increased by means of dams between the lake of Furesø and the river mouth at the Øresund. In the 17th century, sizeable industrial enterprises were established along the river giving it the reputation of being the cradle of Danish industry. They included mills for the production of textiles, metals, paper and armaments. The factories operated until the 1950s after which they began to close, leaving buildings that were put to other uses. They included the Brede Works, now an industrial museum, and the Strandmøllen paper mill.[5]
The principal landmarks along the river valley consist of exclusive country houses and palaces and of water mills which developed into factories.
TheFarumgård manor house built in theRococo style in 1705 overlooks Farum Lake (Farum Sø).[6] The public footpath around the lake leads through the acclaimed Baroque gardens.Næsseslottet on Furesø is a country house from 1783 which was built by the Dutch shipping entrepreneurFrédéric de Coninck. The park, which includes several obelisks is open to the public.[7]Frederiksdal House at the south end of Furesø is a white Rococo mansion designed byNicolai Eigtved andJohann Gottfried Rosenberg in the mid-18th century. It is not open to the public.[8]
The open-air museumFrilandsmuseet inLyngby consists of a collection of old houses, farms and mills which have been moved to the site to show how people lived in former times. Sophienholm between the river to the north andLake Bagsværd to the south dates from 1768 but was completely rebuilt by the affluent businessmanConstantin Brun in 1805. It is now an exhibition centre.[9]
Owned by the Danish royal family, Sorgenfri Palace was built by the French architect François Dieussart in 1706. The main building was redesigned in theNeoclassical style byPeter Meyn in 1790. Some parts of the gardens are open to the public.[10][11]
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The Brede Works originated with a mill in 1370 which was adapted to production gunpowder in 1628, copper from 1668 to 1855 and textile from 1831 until the factory closed in 1956. The museum documents the growth of industry along the river and has a large collection of historic clothing. Located at the mouth of the river, Strandmøllen (the Beach Mill) from 1599 is a historic paper mill.[6] With a history dating back to at least the 15th century, Lyngby Mill with its large water wheel has been restored and is the only mill in the Mølleå Valley which is still fully operational.[10] Other former mills between Sorgenfri and the Øresund include Fuglevad (1492),[12]Ørholm (from 1370),Nymølle (mid-17th century), Stampen (13th century) and Raadvad (1643).[13]
The river and the adjoining lakes are popular for canoeing. Boats can be rented for the day or for the two-day trip from Frederiksdal to Strandmøllen near the mouth of the river.[4] Boat rental is also available atHolte Harbour.[14] Bådfarten operates four tour boats on Lyngby Sø, Bagsværd Sø and Mølleåen and two on Vejleså and Furesøen.[15] There is also a 10-kilometre (6 mi) walking and cycle route along the river from Sorgenfri to Skodsborg.[13]
55°48′15″N12°31′22″E / 55.80417°N 12.52278°E /55.80417; 12.52278