Sønderby on Femø: Village Structure, Culture and Island Paths

Sønderby Between Island Paths and Village Structure

Sønderby on Femø features an intricate village structure with paths and cultural sites. Those who view the island as a place for peaceful exploration will find various points of interest here. Via Damstrædet, you reach Eventyrstrædet. Fairy tales, trolls and witches are hidden in the old poplar trees. At the old poplar trees, fairy tales, trolls and witches appear as tangible motifs along the path.

Getting to Femø

Most visitors reach Femø by taking the Femøsund ferry from Kragenæs; the crossing from Kragenæs to Femø takes 55 minutes. The 55 minutes provide a clear framework for the journey to Femø.

A Village with Its Own Structure

Sønderby’s village structure is considered very original and homogeneous; the farms were situated around the village green. At the same time, Sønderby is a green, loosely built village with abundant vegetation and a few small open fields. The village is one of the two villages on Femø located at the centre of star-shaped field divisions with living hedges and straight paths radiating out from the villages. The hedges and paths shape the appearance of these star-shaped field divisions. The living hedges and straight paths form a different spatial pattern from the more winding exploration of Sønderby.

Sønderby is somewhat more winding to explore. This gives you a view of the village in which the village green, hedges, fields and straight radiating paths reveal different aspects of the settlement structure.

Culture in a Compact Setting

The Femø Library Point is located in Femø Præstegård at Kirkehældevej 29 in Sønderby; Femø Præstegård serves as a cultural centre. The Femø Museum is also located in Sønderby. It displays local objects, including old tools from various trades, a large collection of stones, kitchen utensils and stuffed animals.

Next to Sønderby Gadekær stands Holger Wederkinch’s limestone sculpture “Los, Ræv og Urhane” from 1922. The murals in Femø Church are particularly important for understanding the Reformation debate. The murals in Femø Church complement the sculpture with a sacred visual space. For visitors interested in culture, this provides different approaches through art, everyday history and religious visual themes.

Paths, Nature and Stories

Troldestien is located at Madsens Vænge in Sønderby. “Labyrinten” is a 200-metre-long network of paths modelled on the paths and roads of Femø. The network’s 200 metres make “Labyrinten” a clearly defined section of paths for a short circular walk. In Birkemosen’s willow garden, you can walk from 7 a.m. until sunset.

The Femø Storytelling Festival takes place every year on the second full weekend in June; its 2026 programme included storytelling events in the garden of Femø Præstegård in Sønderby.

In the same destination area, you can also discover Hyldtofte, Kramnitse, Rødby, Askø By, Sletnæs, Hummingen, Nørreballe and Sakskøbing.

For the overarching travel overview: Lolland.