If you fancy a walk around the beautiful area, discovering the nature that surrounds the abbey, this is the tour for you. We expand on the story of the abbey and include the monks’ use of the landscape and the surrounding nature. The abbey’s land extended far beyond the central abbey complex. It covered a large area – all the way down to Esrum Sø. The Cistercian monks used their hands; they were skilled craftsmen, builders, farmers and engineers. Our walk takes us around the now non-existent abbey wall, and we paint a picture of the living abbey with its travel stables, utility rooms, barns, animal husbandry, water mills and bell foundry – and much more besides. The walk around the area is about 2 kilometres and takes 90 minutes. Remember sensible footwear and wear weather-appropriate clothes.

When the sun is shining and the abbey garden is full of scents, sounds and colours, you really get a sense of the place the monks endeavoured to create – a little earthly paradise. As well as telling you all about the abbey, this guided tour gives you an opportunity to taste history. We bring the story of the monks’ numerous gardens to life: the apothecary garden, the orchard, the hop garden and the vegetable gardens. We smell the herbs and taste some of them. During the tour, you will also be treated to some little samples of our excellent Esrum beer, honey, mustard, jams etc. Everything is made in and by monasteries and convents in Europe. The tour takes 90 minutes. Available only from 1 May to 15 September.

Do you love solving puzzles and mysteries? If so, our ‘Secret of the White Monks’ puzzle game is just the thing. If you are good at working together and can find all the clues that lie hidden in the old abbey building, you might be able to crack the 7 codes that open 7 mysterious coffins. You are then granted membership of the Lodge of the White Monks, thereby inscribing yourself in the history of the lodge members who guard an 800-year-old secret. Before the game, you will all be given an introduction to the abbey. You then play together in teams of between 2 and 5. Part of the game takes place outdoors, so dress appropriately.

What would you do if you had the power to make all the most important decisions about the future of Denmark? Find that out by playing ‘Faith, Power and Chaos’. In the large game room, wearing fabulous hats, you will play the role of the noble families who held power in 16th-century Denmark. You have to make a large number of choices, form alliances and take actions to protect your family during the turbulence of pre-Reformation Denmark. Whose side are you on? The nobility, the Church or the people? And which king do you support? Ultimately, it is up to you to decide whether or not Denmark gets reformed! The game takes place inside the abbey building. After a brief introduction to the abbey, a gamemaster will guide you through the game.