Sydlangeland municipality
Encyclopedia
Until January 1, 2007 Sydlangeland municipality was a municipality (Danish
, kommune
) in the former Funen County
on the island of Langeland
in south-central Denmark
. The municipality covered an area of 121 km², and had a total population of 4,288 (2005). Its last mayor was Knud Gerther. The main town and the site of its municipal council was the town of Humble.
Ferry
service connects the former municipality on the south end of the island at the town of Bagenkop over the Baltic Sea
to the city of Kiel
, Germany
.
The municipality was created in 1970 due to a kommunalreform ("Municipality Reform") that combined a number of existing parish
es:
Sydlangeland municipality ceased to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with existing Tranekær
and Rudkøbing municipality
to form the new Langeland municipality
. This created a municipality with an area of 290 km² and a total population of 14,223 (2005). The new municipality belongs to Region of Southern Denmark ("South Denmark Region").
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
, kommune
Municipalities of Denmark
This is a list of Municipalities of Denmark.-Region Hovedstaden:* Albertslund Municipality* Allerød Municipality* Ballerup Municipality* Bornholm Regional Municipality* Brøndby Municipality* Copenhagen Municipality* Dragør Municipality* Egedal Municipality...
) in the former Funen County
Funen County
Fyns Amt is a former county in central Denmark, comprising the islands of Funen, Langeland, Tåsinge, Ærø, and approximately 90 other islands, of which only 25 are inhabited. The county was formed on 1 April 1970, comprising the former counties of Odense and Svendborg. The county was abolished...
on the island of Langeland
Langeland
Langeland is a Danish island located between the Great Belt and Bay of Kiel. The island measures 285 km² and, as of 1 January 2010, has a population of 13,277. The island produces grain and is known as a recreational area. A bridge connects it to Tåsinge via Siø - a small island with a...
in south-central Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. The municipality covered an area of 121 km², and had a total population of 4,288 (2005). Its last mayor was Knud Gerther. The main town and the site of its municipal council was the town of Humble.
Ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
service connects the former municipality on the south end of the island at the town of Bagenkop over the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
to the city of Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The municipality was created in 1970 due to a kommunalreform ("Municipality Reform") that combined a number of existing parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
es:
- Fodslette Parish
- Humble Parish
- Lindelse Parish
- Magleby Parish
- Tryggelev Parish
Sydlangeland municipality ceased to exist as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007). It was merged with existing Tranekær
Tranekær municipality
Until January 1, 2007 Tranekær municipality was a municipality in the former Funen County on the island of Langeland in south-central Denmark. The municipality included the islands of Siø, and covered an area of 107 km². It had a total population of 3,467...
and Rudkøbing municipality
Rudkøbing municipality
Until January 1, 2007 Rudkøbing municipality was a municipality in the former Funen County on the island of Langeland in south-central Denmark. The municipality included the islands of Strynø and Strynø Kalv, and covered an area of 63 km². It had a total population of 6,676...
to form the new Langeland municipality
Langeland municipality
Langeland municipality is a municipality in Region of Southern Denmark in Denmark consisting of the island of Langeland. It covers an area of 290 km² and a total population of 13,741 ....
. This created a municipality with an area of 290 km² and a total population of 14,223 (2005). The new municipality belongs to Region of Southern Denmark ("South Denmark Region").
Attractions
- Bird reserveNature reserveA nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
at Gulstav Marsh at the far south end of the island. There are also cliffs at the seashore at Dovns Cliffs (Dovns Klint) and Gulstav Cliffs (Gulstav Klint). - There are additional cliffs near the town of Risting, which offer a great view to the nature area off its shores. Stendyssen, an ancient stone monumentDolmenA dolmen—also known as a portal tomb, portal grave, dolmain , cromlech , anta , Hünengrab/Hünenbett , Adamra , Ispun , Hunebed , dös , goindol or quoit—is a type of single-chamber megalithic tomb, usually consisting of...
is located at the highest elevation. Ristinge also has a long stretch of popular, white sand beachBeachA beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
. - King Humble's Grave (Kong Humbles Grav), a Long barrowLong barrowA long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal tumuli or earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs...
, is one of Langeland's most well-known antiquities. It is encircled by its 77 stones, and has a single chambered tomb. While no one is certain who is buried there, legend has it that it was a very important person. The myth of King Humble is mentioned in the Middle AgesMiddle AgesThe Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
by Danish historian Saxo GrammaticusSaxo GrammaticusSaxo Grammaticus also known as Saxo cognomine Longus was a Danish historian, thought to have been a secular clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, foremost advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. He is the author of the first full history of Denmark.- Life :The Jutland Chronicle gives...
. - The church in Humble is one of the biggest village churches in Denmark. The late RomanesqueRomanesque architectureRomanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
building has granite foundations and brick walls. Both the original doors are still intact. The present windows are from the 19th century. Frescos inside the church were revealed underneath a layer of cement when the church was restored. The church bells are renowned for their beautiful sound, and one of them is the oldest on Langeland. It was made 1430, and has stamped on it the coat-of-armsHeraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
of Eric of PomeraniaEric of PomeraniaEric of Pomerania KG was King Eric III of Norway Norwegian Eirik, King Eric VII of Denmark , and as Eric King of Sweden...
. The other bell is the biggest on Langeland and was made in 1633. - Lindelse Mølle
- Nature area near Tryggelev