Vejle itself is an attractive and historic town at the heart of an impossibly beautiful corner of the country known as Trekanten (or 'The Triangle'). The town itself was voted the cosiest in all of Denmark in a national poll conducted in 2010 and visitors won't take long to fall for its charms. Its name derives from an old Danish word for 'ford' (in recognition of its location at an important river crossing) and its history stretches as far back as the year 1100. Today, Vejle is known for its historic landmarks (including a hilltop windmill and a grand merchant's house) and vibrant shopping scene - especially along its pedestrianised central street, which offers 900m of big-name stores and quirky, independent shops.

Along the town's quaint side-streets there are with plenty of trendy cafés and excellent gourmet dining options at places such as the Aagaard Inn, which dates from 1777, or the idyllic Hopballe Mill which offers a moment of lunchtime respite for weary feet.

Creativity abounds in Vejle with the new wave-shaped apartment complex, Bølgen (The Wave) being the town’s latest architectural wonder, clad with shimmering glazed tiles. The bright, modern ambiance of the heritage textile mill, Spinderihallerne, is home to many creative businesses and the Vejle Art Museum showcases an inspiring collection of etchings, including 50 by Rembrandt.

For something a little more back-to-nature, just outside the town lies Kongens Kær wetland park, which has recently been upgraded with new nature trails and picnic areas to make it more user-friendly. Kongens Kær is well-known for its wildfowl (ducks, geese and grebes are among the feathered residents), but the most exciting avian attractions are the rare white-tailed eagles (Europe's largest birds of prey) that can sometimes be glimpsed as they hunt across these wild and wonderful wetlands.