The many tumuli along the road show how important Hærvejen was as a water route and trade route throughout history, probably even as long ago as the Early Stone Age.
Hærvejen was used by merchants, who transported flint, amber, hides, honey, black pots from Jutland and ox to Central Europe. It was also used by religious pilgrims visiting the grave of the apostle in Santiago de Compostela in Northern Spain, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome or those on their way to Jerusalem. Last but not least, the road was used by armies as well, which is why there are so many moats along the route.
Hærvejen has had many other names in the past: The Steers’ Road, the Ox Road, the King’s Road, the Roman Road or simply ‘the road’. In the Southern part of Jutland, the road is still often referred to as the Ox Road. On the route from Viborg to Dannevirke, the name Hærvejen has been in use since 1930.
