Arnakkekilden

Every 24 hrs 750,000 litres of water flow into the Lake Ørnsø. The rich water flow of the Spring Arnakkekilden was a contributing factor, when a group of doctors and locals managed to create the basis of a water based and health-giving health-resort on this very site in 1883.

In the middle of the 19th century, medical science had growing interest in exploiting ferrous water as a healing and preventative measure against ailments. During the 1870s, it was discovered that the water from the Spring Arnakkekilden was particularly rich in minerals and iron.

At their leisure guests in the park can taste the water flowing from the well. They will also note the temperature of the water, which is constant and chilly 7° degrees centigrade. In spite of the reddish appearance of the spring water, the water is drinkable. It has a special taste, and it is high on minerals like iron, calcium and sodium. The iron is clearly visible because it precipitates ochre, colouring the surroundings reddish-brown.

The facility around the source of the spring is from 1929, when it was established by the Friends of Silkeborg Bad. Little has changed over the years. Around the millennium, time had taken its toll on bulwark and basin walls. Therefore the Art Centre Silkeborg Bad initiated a collection and fundraising to renew the facility. This succeeded with support from local contributors, private funds, the municipality of Silkeborg and the Realdania Foundation. A thorough renovation was carried out during 2006-2007.

The Art Centre indoors exhibition has a small presentation of the hundred year-old history of the facility as a health-resort, including old pictures of the Spring Arnakkekilden.

The mineral-rich water from Arnakkekilden has been bottled since the 1880s. At first, P.O. Lange from Silkeborg bottled and sold the spring water under names such as “Silkeborg Jærnvand” or “Silkeborg Jærnvand with carbonation”. From 1968, Silkeborg’s local brewery, Neptun, bottled the water from the spring and sold it as bottled spa water. Neptun has since bottled the water on behalf of Carlsberg, which has bottled and sold spa water from Arnakkeilden until the end of 2020.

You are very welcome to explore the story of Arnakkekilden in our historical exhibition in Skovvilla (Forest Villa).