Sønderby: History, landscapes and the Camønoen

Sønderby offers different perspectives for planning your trip: its name history dates back to 1688, while Borre Sømose and Høje Møn represent a contrast between landscapes. The Camønoen’s northern route also connects several named points. Borre Church lies along this route, adding a historical dimension to your itinerary. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sønderby, you can first decide how to balance local history, landscapes and a trip linked to a route.

Name history and Borre Church

Sønderby was originally called Sønder Vestud and has been mentioned since 1688. The former name and the year provide a specific chronological anchor for the area’s history. Another point of historical interest is Borre Church: its oldest parts, including the nave and chancel, date from around 1200 to 1250. This dates specific parts of the building rather than assigning a single construction period to the church as a whole.

A local legend tells of an earlier site for the church. According to the legend, about 800 years ago it stood at “Kirkebjerg” in Sønderby. After a fire, rebuilding was said to have proved impossible, and the church was then moved to Borre. The story preserves a local connection between Kirkebjerg and Borre Church, providing a different kind of historical context alongside the dating of the oldest parts of the building.

Landscapes and routes on Møn

On Møn, Borre Sømose is one of the major landscape features along the main road towards Møns Klint. Together with Høje Møn, it creates a striking contrast between two successive landscapes. For orientation, it is therefore not just the name of an individual landscape feature that matters, but also the transition between the two distinct landscapes.

The northern route of the Camønoen runs from Tiendegaarden via Borre Church and continues along Sønderbyvej. This places the church on a specific route: it lies between the starting point at Tiendegaarden and the continuation along Sønderbyvej.

For cyclists, Borre Church has a practical appeal of its own: it is described as one of Denmark’s first cycle-friendly wayside churches. During opening hours, cyclists can take a break there, refill their water bottles and pump up their bicycle tires. The church is therefore not only a historical point on the Camønoen, but also a stop with practical facilities for cyclists.

Tiendegaarden and its history of welcoming guests

Tiendegaarden at Sønderbyvej 29 on Østmøn is a family farm near Møns Klint that has been welcoming tourists to Møn for more than 50 years. The farm combines accommodation and a connection to the route: Tiendegaarden is both a place to stay and the starting point for the northern route mentioned above. Its retreat history dates back to the winter season of 2021. Dark Sky retreats were held at Tiendegaarden in spring and autumn; the venue is certified as a Dark Sky site. The certification identifies the venue’s theme, while spring and autumn describe the seasonal timing of the events.

Discover more destinations: Askeby, Bakkebølle, Skaverup, Bønsvig, Borre, Kostræde Banker, Lundby, Næs

For the broader travel overview: Vordingborg Municipality.