Sønderby: History, Routes and Landscape

Sønderby combines a history dating back centuries and a local church legend with routes that follow Sønderbyvej. In the wider landscape, Borre Sømose and Høje Møn form a striking contrast. This gives you a choice of distinct themes for your trip: history, routes and landscape.

History between Sønderby and Borre

Sønderby has been mentioned since 1688 and was originally called Sønder Vestud. According to legend, the church stood at Kirkebjerg in Sønderby around 800 years ago. After a fire, the attempt to rebuild it reportedly failed, and the church was then moved to Borre. The tradition links the place name to a former church site; the history of today’s Borre Church can also be explored through its oldest architectural elements.

The nave and chancel of Borre Church date from around 1200 to 1250. The nave is the main part of the church interior, while the chancel is the adjoining area. This dating provides a specific historical reference point for the church and complements the legend with another way of looking into the past: here, the focus is on surviving architectural elements and their period; there, on a local story set within an approximate timeframe.

Landscape and Routes

On Møn, Borre Sømose is one of the major landscape features along the main road towards Møns Klint. Borre Sømose and Høje Møn follow one another and form a striking contrast. If you choose landscape as a theme for your trip, you can treat this transition as a guiding idea in its own right, rather than seeing the two names merely as separate points on a list of places.

The northern route of the Camønoen also offers a clear sequence for planning your walk: it runs from Tiendegaarden past Borre Church and then along Sønderbyvej. This connects a farm, the church and the road route in a specific itinerary. Borre Church is not only a cultural and historical landmark, but also part of the route described. The sequence of stops can help you choose the focus of a section of the route without separating the landscape and history themes from one another.

Borre Church is described as one of Denmark’s first cycling-friendly wayside churches. During opening hours, cyclists can take a break there, refill their water bottles and pump up their bicycle tyres. If you plan to make use of these facilities, check the opening hours: the break and the services mentioned are available during those hours. The experiences along the routes are therefore quite distinct: the Camønoen provides a sequence of stops, while the church offers cyclists a practical place to stop during opening hours.

Stays and Travel Interests

Tiendegaarden at Sønderbyvej 29 on Østmøn is a family farm near Møns Klint that has been hosting tourists on Møn for more than 50 years. Since the 2021 winter season, Dark Sky retreats have been held there in spring and autumn at a location certified as a Dark Sky facility.

When looking for a holiday apartment, you can first consider which travel theme you would like to shape your stay: the history of Sønderby and Borre Church, a section of the Camønoen route, or the contrast between the landscapes. These are different points of reference for planning, not a ranking. If you want to combine several interests, the route and historical connections provide specific ways to explore the area, while Borre Sømose and Høje Møn draw your attention to the landscape.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Bakkebølle, Askeby, Klintholm Havn, Bogø By, Stavreby, Lundby, Næs, Bønsvig.

For the main travel overview: Vordingborg Municipality.