Søbygaard
7 Søby
10 Søby Ramparts and Søbygaard:
On the north-western point of Ærø lies Søby, the island’s third largest town. The heart of activity in Søby is naturally found in the harbour, which welcomes guests that arrive to the island by sea. Søby is also home to Ærø’s fishing fleet as well as Ærø’s largest workplace, Søby Shipyard, which dominates the everyday life of this small town. Within easy reach of Søby’s fine sandy beach lies a well-run modern marina. The steep hill that climbs towards the island interior is lined with Søby’s distinctive houses and is crowned by the impressive Søby Church. In town can be found accommodation, a bakery, a supermarket and a bar as well as a beautiful well-maintained windmill.
8 Skjoldnæs Peninsula & Lighthouse
Skjoldnæs Peninsula is a popular excursion. Here lies one of Northern Europe’s most attractive seaside golf courses, which boasts sea views from all of its eighteen holes. The imposing Skjoldnæs Lighthouse is open to all and offers wonderful views of the island, and beyond to Germany.
9 Vitsø & Søby Måe
Orinally, Vitsø was a fjord. In 1781, it was drained in order to reclaim land and thus became a meadow that was grazed by cattle. It wasn’t until 1964 that the level of salinity in the soil fell sufficiently for the land to be used for agriculture. In 2009, the freshwater lake and the marshes (a total of 112 The Pied Avocet breeds on hectares) were re-established, thereby Vitsø’s bird islands creating the nature reserves of Vitsø and the wetlands of Søby Måe. They have subsequently become important breeding centres for many species of migratory birds, which nest on the many small islands in the lake. A trail has been established all around Vitsø, from which birdlife and nature can be experienced at close hand. A leaflet on Vitsø and Søbygaard is available.
Søby Ramparts and the Renaissance period manor of Søbygaard date back to 1580. Originally, in the early 12th century, a large fortification was built here as a defence against the violent hordes that constantly attacked from the sea. After the Valdemars had finally defeated this threat, the castle lost its significance and fell into decline. Søbygaard was subsequently built on this site by Duke Hans, the younger, who hailed from Southern Jutland. The oldest remaining structures are the cellar vaults from 1584. However, the white manor house was not built until the late 18th century. Søbygaard has been under contiSøby Ramparts nuous renovation since 1993 and is now a delightful and welcoming place to visit. Once again, the moat is filled with water and the drawbridge has been painstakingly reconstructed, true to its original design. Søbygaard has become a major feature on the island’s cultural landscape. It plays host to art exhibitions, ”Kys Frøen” (Kiss the frog) activities, weddings and classical concerts in the authentically crafted concert hall, that is beautifully decorated with stained glass windows by artist Sven Havsteen-Mikkelsen.
Kiss the frog
Welcome to Ærø Ærø is a beautiful and diverse island covering an area of 88 km2. It lies at the southern end of the South Funen Archipelago, which stretches from the Little Belt to the Baltic Sea. Geologically, the island was formed 1819,000 years ago by movement of ice from the southeast, which resulted in the creation of a long ridge that today rises above the sea. On the northern side facing the archipelago, the coastline is flat and meandering. The southern coast rimmed by the Baltic Sea is characterised by tall, protruding cliffs. Ærø is an independent municipality with a thriving island community. Here you will find a range of good accommodation and eateries, a varied and flourishing commercial life as well as a broad spectrum of great cultural and nature experiences. Have a great time.
Ferries: The ferry service covers four routes to and from Ærø - from Faaborg, Svendborg, Fynshav and Rudkøbing respectively. For information, check www.aeroe-ferry.dk or call +45 6252 400. ÆrøXpressen is running ferries on the Marstal - Rudkøbing route. Go to www.aeroxpressen.dk for information. Free Buses: On Ærø, public buses are free - for everyone, all year round. Also for your bike, if there is room. You can find the current bus timetable at www.aeroe-ferry.dk Accommodation and Experiences: Find information on accommodation, activities and experiences on Ærø at www.visitaeroe.com or download the VISIT AEROE app on AppStore or Google Play
Hiking & Cycling Map Photos: Louise Sørensen, Bjørg Dalheim, Helge Sørensen, Naturturisme mfl. Layout: hjorth-freelance.dk. Print: stepprintpower. 7th edition. 2022
The view from Skoldnæs Lighthouse
ÆRØ The Archipelago Trail Map 7