East of Klintholm Havn, the coast of Møn begins to rise slowly but steadily. The yellow lighthouse tower in the far south-east of the island, which is relatively unremarkable by day, makes use of the ten-metre-high cliffs here to achieve a greater light height. Its designation is: Fl(4) W 30s. Møns Klint is practically just round the corner from here.
Møns Klint: the ‘Foundations of Denmark’
For centuries, its imposing wall served as an important landmark for shipping in the Baltic Sea. Later, the wild formations – surging like frozen waves – shaped by water, wind and frost, began to attract visitors from the mainland too: first came the painters, then the holidaymakers. Few at first, then more and more. Today, the ‘Foundations of Denmark’, where 70-million-year-old limestone is so spectacularly exposed, are listed as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. An open window into the Earth’s geological past, set amidst magnificent natural surroundings.
The History of the Earth at the Geocentre
The main base for exploring the cliffs and the rest of the biosphere reserve on the Klintholm Peninsula is the Geocentre’s visitor centre, which is well worth a visit interactive exhibition on the natural history of the chalk coast and the densely wooded nature reserve inland behind it. Opening hours: 10 am to 6 pm, depending on the season. (moensklint.dk). Dronningestolen is just 300 metres from the car park.
Services to Klintholm Havn
This is also the starting point for a number of other walking routes through the Klinteskoven woodland to various viewpoints and to Liselund Park in the north, Denmark’s smallest ‘castle’. A total of six stairways, spread over just under seven kilometres of coastline, link the beach to the cliff edge. By bike, the distance from Klintholm Havn to the Geocenter is around seven kilometres. From late April to late September, there is also a direct bus service: route 678 runs between the harbour and the visitor centre, and the journey takes around twenty minutes.
Stege, the main town on Møn
Anyone wishing to spend more time in the area can sail round Møn and discover its ‘other sides’ – such as the shallow, sheltered sounds in the north, for example, the small neighbouring island of Nyord, characterised by salt marshes and bird breeding grounds, or the main town of Stege in the north-west of the island with its 4,000 inhabitants – if, after so much nature, you find yourself longing for the ‘big city’ again …
The range of amenities is correspondingly good. Shops line Storegade, as do a wide variety of restaurants. Visiting boats can moor either in the somewhat industrial Sukkerhavn on the western side of the sound (which, seaward of the road bridge, is also known as the outer harbour), in Kulhavn opposite, or on the eastern bank. in the harbour basin at Lystbådehavn. The harbour office, which has a payment machine, is also located here. There are no fewer than four supermarkets to choose from.
Christian Tiedt
Editor Travel
