MegaArt Harald Bluetooth – Korsør

A Viking portrait in mega format at Korsør Harbour

On the large DGL silo at Korsør Harbour, King Harald Bluetooth gazes out across the Great Belt with a look that encompasses a thousand years of Danish history. The monumental wall painting measures 34 by 19 metres and covers a full 646 square metres of the silo facade — a work of art so vast it can be seen from the ferry terminal, the harbour promenade, and even from passing trains and cars. The painting is part of Mega Art Sjælland, an art project transforming industrial buildings in West Zealand into living narratives about the region's cultural heritage.

The artist behind the work

Behind the brush stands Peter Skensved, a Danish artist with international experience in large-format art. Skensved has painted wall and gable murals in countries including China, Canada, the USA, Chile and Georgia, and in 2018 helped create Europe's longest painting at 470 metres. He is known for his ability to blend classicism with graphic elements and for creating portraits that capture both human expression and historical context. For the Harald Bluetooth piece, Skensved immersed himself in historical material and consulted leading researchers to create a credible yet artistically bold interpretation of the Viking king.

The story within the painting

Harald Bluetooth ruled Denmark from approximately 958 to 987 and is remembered as the king who united the realm and introduced Christianity to the Danes. The painting contains numerous symbols of his achievements: Trelleborg, the West Zealand ring fortress, represents his impressive construction legacy. A map shows his united kingdom, while the Jelling Stone symbolises the famous religious conversion. Two ravens tell the story of the transition from old Norse belief to Christianity — a shift that hardly happened overnight.

The choice of Harald Bluetooth as the motif at Korsør Harbour is no coincidence. The ring fortress Trelleborg is located in Slagelse Municipality, just a short drive from Korsør. The town has also always served as a link in the Danish realm — a crossing point that connected the country's two halves. On a symbolic level, Harald Bluetooth himself resembles such a link: a king in a time of upheaval who managed to unite Denmark under one banner.

How to experience the painting

What makes Mega Art special is that the experience changes with distance. Start a hundred metres or more from the silo and let the full motif unfold before you — the Viking king with all his symbols, colours and details slowly emerging against the West Zealand sky. Then walk right up close and feel how the painting almost wraps around you. The brushstrokes, colour nuances and raw texture of the Nordsjö facade paint become visible, giving you a sense of the enormous craftsmanship behind it all. The work is accessible all year round and around the clock — free art under open skies.

Experiences nearby

Korsør Harbour and the surrounding town offer far more than mega art. A short drive south takes you to the Viking Fortress Trelleborg, one of Denmark's best-preserved ring fortresses from Harald Bluetooth's own era and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you can explore the circular fortress and experience the Viking village of Slagløse. Back in Korsør, you can discover the historic Fortress that has watched over the Great Belt since the Middle Ages, or visit Kongegården for contemporary art and intimate concerts in an 18th-century setting.

Along the harbour you can enjoy views over the boats and the Great Belt, and in summer the area buzzes with ice cream shops, cafés and fresh sea air. Comwell Klarskovgård is beautifully situated in Korsør Lystskov with direct access to beach and nature, if you want to turn your visit into more than a day trip. Discover even more experiences in Korsør and the surrounding area at destinationsjaelland.dk.