The present Montra Hotel Sabro Kro was built in 1855; however, previously, an inn by the name of Urebjerg Kro was located at the very same place.

Urebjerg refers to the hill top by the same name that is situated between Sabro and Skjoldelev and rises 79 metres above sea level.

From the very beginning, Montra Hotel Sabro Kro was given a royal charter. The designation ”royal charter as a licensed inn” originates from 1283 when Danish King Erik Klipping announced that inns should be present throughout Denmark. In 1396, it was furthermore decided that an inn should be present at the country’s main thoroughfares for each fourth mile (4 miles = 30 km.)

The privilege implied that the innkeeper was given permission to distil his own liqueur and that he would be relieved of a number of civil public duties. In return, the inn should among other things provide for brisk and energetic horses for the postal service carriages.

The picture to the right was taken in 1912. It is a copy of a picture that was sent as a postcard to manufacturer Nielsen Holst, Østergade 50 in Århus. Nielsen Holst is the gentleman at the wheel.

CYCLE-RACING TRACK

From the beginning of the 20th century and at least until the mid-thirties a cycle-racing track was situated behind the inn and run by the owner of the inn.

The following is an extract from the local newspaper Århus Amtstidende:

20 June 1906
”Sabro Bicycle Club is arranging a big Track Race at Sabro Kro on Sunday 24 June at 4 pm. The riders of the association are to register with the Secretary no later than Thursday 21 June. Music will be played during Races. A Dance has been arranged for the evening.
Spectators can attend the Dance.
The Board of Directors”

26 June 1906
”Sabro Bicycle Club’s big Race was well visited despite the warm Weather. There were, however, a number of Accidents and one participant broke his Collar bone. He was forced to stay on the Track until Doctor Gøtsche arrived.”

The photo to the right is taken in the late twenties. It is taken from the opposite side of Viborgvej.

TEMPERANCE RESTAURANT

During the years from 1920-1931, Montra Hotel Sabro Kro was a temperance restaurant. Each year it was decided whether the inn’s licence to sell spirits was to be outvoted or re-established, however, during these years a majority of No-voters were present in the assembly that decided on these matters.

The following extract is from the newspaper Aarhuus Stiftstidende on 19 December 1925

“At the Voting Yesterday regarding the Licence to sell spirits at Sabro Kro, 106 voted Yes and 146 voted No. As the required number of participants were not present, a new vote will be held.”

We may then conclude that the next vote had a majority of No-voters.

OWNERSHIP

Regner Frode Rasmussen owned the inn from 1929-1949. During this period, the inn was again granted its license to sell spirits and the inn underwent a considerable restoration.

Sabro local record office has the following on R.F. Rasmussen and his running of the inn:

“On 8 December 1931 the parochial church council declined with 3 votes for and 5 against (3 members absent, 2 did not vote) to receive the earnings from an entertainment at Sabro Kro that had been arranged for that same purpose as a gift to the poor parishioners at Christmas. According to report the gift was subsequently anonymously put in the church box. The present owner, R.F. Rasmussen, was all in other respects a good parishioner. He laid out a beautiful park at the inn and during the war he invited – in cooperation with the parish council – the elderly people of the municipality to an annual gathering offering coffee and a banquet to replace the excursion that could not be carried out.”

Following the death of R.F. Rasmussens in 1949, the inn was taken over by Svend Aage Meyer, who in 1953 would resell the place to Jens Jørgen Olesen from Langå who according to the Land Registry is indicated as the owner.

[The photo to the right is from 1935. It was taken on the occasion of the presentation and opening of the veranda.]

In 1957, the inn is bought by Jens Peter Karshøj, who in 1961-1963 adds an extension to it. The inn now has a large room of 300 square metres at its disposal.

In 1969, Lis and Holger Buchhave assume ownership and immediately extend the inn by means of a small assembly hall. During the next 10 years the running of the inn changes significantly as the turnover from parties rises from 20% to 80%.

To the right, Lis and Holder Buchhave who took over Montra Hotel Sabro Kro in 1969. 

MEETINGS

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Montra Hotel Sabro Kro was often used as a meeting place for Denmark’s Liberal Party, Venstre. At a meeting on 21 November 1982, the foreign minister at that time Mr. Uffe Ellemann-Jensen gave a speech from the platform of the inn. The speech included a number of statements concerning security policy and almost triggered off an attempt to overthrow the Government with international overtones.

Extract from the Danish newspaper Morgenavisen Jyllandsposten’s quotation of the speech:

”My temperament has often undergone serious testing when I had to participate in NATO meetings and ridicule Denmark with silly and absurd resolutions of a security political character that the Social Democratic Party and SF, the Socialist People’s Party, have alone resolved to annoy the government.”

In 1985-1986, 24 rooms facing the park were added to the inn in addition to a 70 square metre lobby on the west wing of the inn. At the present time, the inn had not let any rooms for 20 years; however, the demand for accommodation had increased significantly.

The picture displays the inn following the extension.