Faborg Tourist Attractions
|
|
Funen IslandSituationFåborg, an attractive little town, lies in the south of Funen on the Fåborg Fjord. To the west stretches the peninsula of Horneland with the ferry port of Bojden, from where boats ply to Fynshav on the island of Als. Today the harbor is popular with amateur yachtsmen and anglers.HistoryIn the Middle Ages Fåborg belonged at different times to the Kingdom of Denmark and the Duchy of Schleswig. It was fortified and had a castle which is mentioned in records of 1377. During the "Counts' Wars" (1534-6) the fortifications were destroyed apart from the West Tower at Vesterport.In the 19th C. the town merchants were engaged in the cereal trade. By the mid-19th C. Fåborg had a regular boat service to Copenhagen and in 1880 the railroad arrived.
Vesterport
In Fåborg there are some well-preserved old streets and houses, including Nygade and Holkegade ("Schmedehusene", or "blacksmiths' houses"). The West Gate in Vestergade, a medieval town gate with a passage for vehicles, is very impressive (opening hours given). It was built in the 15th C. and together with the wall and ditch formed the boundary between the town and the surrounding countryside. It was not until the 19th C. that the town began to expand beyond these limits.
Marketplace
In the Marketplace (Torvet) of Fåborg, formerly where trading was carried out and now a traffic center, can be found the "Ymer Fountain", a copy of the original by the sculptor Kai Nielsen; in 1913 it was donated to the town by Mads Rasmussen. At house No. 9 on the marke-place, named "Pottemageri", is a pottery dating from 1850.
Bell-Tower
In Lille Tårnstrðde stands a Bell-tower (Klokketårnet) which was originally built for a church. On the east wall of the tower can be seen remains of the oldest building in Fåborg - parts of the wall which linked the tower with the church which once stood here. From the tower there is a superb view over the town and the little islands off the coast of Funen.The bell-tower was built in 1857 so that residents of Norby could hear the bells from the distant church.
Fåborg Museum
The Fåborg Museum at Grønnegade 75 is especially worth seeing, as it houses a comprehensive collection of works by Funen painters dated 1900 and thereabouts. It was Mads Rasmussen, a prosperous merchant, who in 1910 had the initiative to found the museum, which was constructed to plans by the architect Carl Petersen. Exhibits include works by the painters Peter Hansen, Fritz Syberg, Johannes Larsen, Jens Birkholm and Harald Giersing. In 1985 N. F. Truelsen designed an extension to the building to house the work of the Danish sculptor Kai Nielsen (1882-1924), who created a statue of Mads Rasmussen which can be seen in the museum.
Old Farm Museum
The house named "Den gamle Gård" (The Old Farm) at Holkegade 1 in Fåborg was built in 1725 and made into a museum in 1932. Early life in Fåborg is documented in one department, with a luxurious Roccoco Room containing a fine collection of glass, porcelain and china. In an adjoining house there is an exhibition of articles associated with sea-faring, formerly an important facet of the town's economy. The third department displays objects from the island of Lyo, to the south of Funen, including textiles and embroidery.
Surroundings
Surroundings of Fåborg have musesums, castles and manor houses.
Kaleko Mølle
Two km/1.25 mi east of Fåborg stands the water mill known as Kaleko Mølle, the oldest part of which dates from 1600. In the early 1900s the mill was opened up as a museum and then renovated in 1968 and made a listed building. The rooms contain old furniture and household utensils, so that the visitor will gain an impression of how a miller's family would have lived more than 100 years ago.
Horne
To the west of Fåborg lies the peninsula of Hornerland and the little village of Horne. On a hill stands a round 12th C. church built of stone. Note the embrasures for use in defending the church against attack. The altar-painting is by C. W. Eckersberg (1812).
Brahetrolleborg Castle
From Fåborg the A8 road leads east to what are known as the Funen Alps; on the left rises the Lerbjerg (126m/413ft). 9 km/5mi further on stands the 15th C. Brahetrolleborg Castle, rebuilt several times, with a large park. At the entrance is the "Humlehaven" restaurant in which exhibitions of art and antiques are mounted.
Egeskov - Manor House
Driving along the A8 East of Fåborg the visitor will come to the old manor house of Egeskov, a Renaissance building situated on the left away from the road. It was constructed on oak piles between 1524 and 1554 and is one of the best- preserved moated houses in Europe. A semi-detached residence with two parallel roofs it has two round towers on the east end and a square tower with staircase on the west end. It is situated in a large park with beech hedges and gravel paths as well as a Baroque garden.The garden is famous for its diverse variety of breathtakingly beautiful flowers.
Oldtimer Museum
In an annex to Egeskopv manor house can be found the Oldtimer Museum, with old cars and aircraft. A short distance to the east lies the village of Kvðrndrup.The major aircraft in this 15-plane collection is a Swedish World War II attack aircraft. Some of the aircraft are on loan. While the collection is small the grounds and highly attractive setting make a visit worthwhile.The museum also has a good collection of motorcycles. The car collection at Egeskopv is composed of about 100 well preserved cars in good condition, dating back from the late 19th century.
