Discover Askø By: Island History, Cycling Route and Water Sports

Island character between land and water

The island of Askø is located in the immediate vicinity of Askø By. On Askø, there is a clear difference in elevation between the dry, higher-lying part of the island, at approximately +4 m, and the seabed of the former Kirkevig. The drained Kirkevig is therefore part of Askø’s landscape history. The stated elevation refers to the dry, higher-lying part of the island and not to the former seabed.

Church, museum and historic sites

Askø Church was built around 1500 directly on the shore of the Kirkevig, which has since been drained. The church building therefore stands at a location where local history and the history of the waters meet. Dating it to around 1500 places the church within the long history of the area, while the former Kirkevig provides the landscape context.

The Askø Ø-museum is a local history museum and archive. The Askø Museum is a small island museum dedicated to the local history of the two interconnected islands of Askø and Lilleø; its physical collection consists primarily of work and agricultural equipment from around 1850 to 1950. For those interested in culture, the museum thus combines local history, an archive and a tangible collection of work and agricultural equipment on Askø.

The area around Askø By also includes Knuthenborg, a castle, and Ravnsborg, a ruin. The two historic sites are located around Askø By, but they do not represent the same type of structure.

Ferry and cycling route

The current ferry service to Askø departs from Kragenæs. A place must always be reserved on the Askø ferry. The departure point and the required reservation are therefore an integral part of planning your journey.

The “Cykeløerne” cycling route runs along Lolland’s north coast between Bandholm and Kragenæs and passes through three of the larger islands in the Smålandsfarvandet: Femø, Fejø and Askø. Its route along Lolland’s north coast and through the three islands connects coastal and island areas in a single route description. The route places Askø in a geographical context extending from Lolland’s north coast to other islands in the Smålandsfarvandet. For cycling travellers, Askø is therefore part of an island group that includes Femø and Fejø. Askø is not the only island point on this route: Femø and Fejø are also among the three larger islands in the Smålandsfarvandet.

Surfing around Askø and Lilleø

The waters around Askø and Lilleø are suitable for surfing. The water-based theme is expressly not limited to Askø alone, but also includes Lilleø. Alongside Askø’s dry land and the history of Kirkevig, the waters around both islands are therefore part of the maritime setting. Anyone planning around the water theme is expressly including a second island, Lilleø, in the geographical context.

For further orientation, you can also look at Vesternæs, Søllested, Nakskov, Købelev, Hoby, Hyldtofte, Rødbyhavn and Nysted.

For the overarching travel overview: Lolland.