I have started thinking about all the positive things I have experienced, courtesy of corona. Being forced to stay in DK instead of exploring the world has encouraged me to go sightseeing and exploring my home country with family, instead of solo travelling.
A few weeks ago, I went on a 2 days trip to the South Funen Archipelago with my aunt Helle (Yep, I do call her Tante Helle = Aunt Helle) with the highlight being seeing Møn’s Klint and 9 other attractions.
The route we used: Google Maps
Funen
1. Valdemar Slot
The first stop on our South Funen Archipelago trip; Valdemar Slot. On the way to the castle, you’ll possibly drive through a scenic turn in the road in Tåsinge and see Troense Harbour; a charming sailor’s town with fine half-timbered old houses.
More importantly – It’s very likely you’ll pass by roadside stalls with local peas or strawberries. You need to buy some, it’s delicious and it’ll sweeten your time on the road!
When arriving at the castle, it’s possible to drive through the gates of the castle and park on a small parking lot by the sea.
The Castle was commissioned by King Christian IV and built between 1639 and 1644. We went for a walk around the castle and down to the ferry bridge. Here it’s possible to board the M/S Helge ferry for a trip around the south of Fyn. Read more here.
Langeland
2. Rudkøbing
Langeland’s largest city is called Rudkøbing. Here you can find a small shopping street – part of it is decorated with colourful butterflies and there’s an H. C. Ørsted exhibition. The 200th Anniversary of H. C. Ørsted’s Discovery of Electromagnetism (1820).
Of course, I had to touch the models and almost got a serious electric shock when turning it on – lucky for me, a kind guide stopped me on my adventure and instead offered to show me how it worked. Oops 🙂
They also offer free guided tours. We didn’t have the time to stay for the tour and left for the harbour instead.
We took the Ferry from Spodsbjerg, Langeland to Tårs, Lolland. Find tickets here. It takes around an hour and costs 266 DKK for a car.
Lolland
3. Dodekalitten – A new landmark
A new monument is being built on Lolland, it’s called “Dodekalitten” and is supposed to be a new landmark for Lolland.
I personally really looked forward to seeing this new monument, mostly because I’ve seen such pretty pictures of it and I didn’t know much about what it actually symbolised before going.
The Dodecalite (Greek: Twelfth) is 12 stone pillars representing greek gods, each 7-9 m high and each weighing 25-45 tons, the top 2 m being carved as heads, all facing inward in a circle of 40 m in diameter. Under a circle of seating stones, a 12 channel sound system is playing spatial electro-acoustic music. Intended to combine the sculptures and melodies for a unified experience.
After being there, I still felt confused about whether it should symbolise something nordic or greek, or a unification? Both of us felt that it’s atypical for Danish landmark art and captivating at the same time.
4. Lupine flower field
Two hectares of flower field lupines in 18 different colours have started to attract people out in the country on Lolland, including ourselves. Way before you see the field, you know you are on the right path due to the perfumed scent from the flowers.
Notice; the lupines will be harvested on July 1st.
5. Maribo Cathedral
Maribo is the largest city on Lolland. Almost by coincidence, we discovered the gothic cathedral church and decided we had to visit. I think there’s always a special atmosphere inside churches, although I’m not religious, it’s like you feel all the history and events that occurred in there.
Next to the cathedral, there’s a lake which makes the cathedral’s surroundings very photogenic.
The cathedral is open from 9-17 every day.
Møn
When driving from Lolland to Møn, we talked about how much we felt we had experienced during the first day of our 2 days South Funen Archipelago trip. How lovely it’ll be to arrive at our cabin; go for a walk around the area, order some food and enjoy a glass of wine and cosy evening-talk.
We booked a night at Hårbølle Harbour, B&B Harbour cabin. If you haven’t used Airbnb yet, use this link to get $44USD (290 DKK) gift card when you sign up.
Unfortunately, it was very cloudy in the evening. But it’s presumably possible to see the most stunning sunset from the cabin (mentioned various times in the guestbook).
6. An unexpected discovery
When going for a walk around Hårbølle Harbour we made an unexpected discovery, a closed and dilapidated flint-stone factory. We went on a little adventure, as it’s easy to take a look inside and get near the large machines. Years ago, the factory produced ball flint for rollers and crushed stones for sandpaper. In 2008 it was sold with the intention to build 40 holiday apartments, but the permissions were rejected by the local authority and nothing happened.
7. Møns Klint
We planned to start the day with the highlight of our 2 day South Funen Archipelago trip – Møns Klint.
From GeoCenter Møns Klint, it’s possible to go south to increase the likelihood of finding fossils, or go north to find the highest and most impressive cliffs. We went north!
Møns Klint is a 6 km stretch of chalk cliffs along the eastern coast in the Baltic Sea. The highest cliff is Dronningestolen, which is 128 m above sea level. To reach the beach, there are staircases with 468 to 497 steps – Denmark’s longest staircase.
We started by taking the stairs down. When reaching the beach, we saw the high tide and realised it would be IMPOSSIBLE to walk along the coast without getting our shoes wet.
Some high tides shouldn’t hold us back! We ended up walking along the coastline and had much fun trying to avoid the waves (although not having the greatest success). We had a great time!
Inside the cliff wall, tourists have written their names with chalk on stones and placed it in crevasses in the walls. Of course, we also wrote our names on a stone and thereby left a little mark of our presence.
8. Møn Ice cream
After walking up and down the staircases and along the cliff, we agreed ice cream was well deserved! Møn Is (ice cream) is a local farm where it’s possible to buy organic ice cream and enjoy it while patting the young cows. The ice cream is suuper delicious and highly recommended!
I would also have liked to visit Lene Evers Chokolate, which is local and has a good reputation as well. But, unfortunately, the shop is only open during weekends and we visited in the middle of the week.
South Zealand
9. Skovtårnet / The Forrest Tower
With our stomachs over-filled with outstanding ice cream, we were recharged and ready to leave South Funen Archipelago islands and drop by the final attractions on our trip.
The only attraction we ended up paying to enter is Skovtårnet (The Forest Tower), a unique one-of-a-kind architectural experience in Scandinavia and written on my bucket list. The upper platform reaches 135 meters above sea level and is the highest accessible point in Zealand.
I expected it to be somehow exhausting to reach the top (like walking on stairs), but it just felt smooth and I was much more occupied looking at the nature and architecture around me.
At the entrance of Camp Adventure, there’s a courtyard with coffee/food stalls and benches. I ordered a grilled burger and we sat down by a little lake and a tiny half-timbered house.
Forest Tower, price 150 DKK per person (+50 DKK parking).
10. Faxe Kalkbrud
When water is mixed with chalk, the colours can turn into amazing blue/turquoise nuances. Chalk can also hide fossils, attracting hobby biologists. This is why a workplace has turned into a tourist attraction. We also saw a group of young laughing girls who had brought their beach towels and jumped into the clear turquoise water. Sounded like they had lots of fun.
Take a look at the photos below and see why.
Summary of South Funen Archipelago attractions:
- Valdemar Slot (Castle)
- Rudkøbing city. H. C. Ørsted 200th anniversary exhibition.
- Dodekatitten
- Lupine flower field
- Maribo and Cathedral
- Hårbølle Harbour. Daneflint factory
- Møns Klint
- Møn Is (Ice cream)
- Camp Adventure, Skovtårnet (Forest tower)
- Faxe Kalkbrud
Find more links about recommend services for traveling here.
