Follow the steps to the top
The Danish Nature Agency runs 'Det Grå Fyr' (The Grey Lighthouse) as an exciting center for migratory birds. Here you get a living (live) insight into one of the world's most fascinating natural experiences, namely the ability of migratory birds to find their way over enormous distances.
Skagen and Grenen are hot-spots for migratory birds who in their thousands - pass by during their annual migration. As a visitor, you get an experience of bird migrations partly in Skagen and partly on a global level.
You also get an insight into the many opportunities to spot birds yourself in the landscape in and around Skagen, depending on the weather conditions and the season. Exciting and new research on migratory birds is disseminated directly into the experience space.
Fun for kids
For children, there are customized experiences, and the significance of the lighthouse for migratory birds and shipping is told before you go up the tower. You will also have the opportunity to follow the daily life of the scientifically working bird station at the center.
And then of course you can see the surroundings from above at the top of the lighthouse. Here the view is absolutely stunning.
A little about the history
With 46 meters, 'Det Grå Fyr' is the second tallest lighthouse in Denmark (only Dueodde Lighthouse on Bornholm is taller - by one meter). Det Grå Fyr was inaugurated and lit for the first time on November 1, 1858, half an hour after sunset.
The lighthouse was designed by the Danish architect N.S. Nebelong, and it took 4 years and cost 200.000 rigsdalers to build. The lighthouse's rotating lens weighs just over two tons and floats on mercury. The light source was a 400 watt sodium lamp.
The light from the lighthouse could be seen at a distance of 20 nautical miles as a flash every four seconds, and it was built in the middle of Odden, so there was equal distance to both the adjacent waters - Skagerrak and Kattegat.
The ascent to the tower is by the brick spiral staircase, which winds like a hollow cylinder and has 210 steps.
