Søbygaard


Around 3km southeast of Søby, this complex of historic buildings offers children's nature-based activities, annually changing exhibitions and hosts around eight outdoor musical events each summer. Enter via the three-winged thatched farm buildings, then cross the drawbridge to an artificial island constructed in 1580 by feudal teenage bad boy Hans den Yngre (aka John II of Schleswig-Holstein) with a show-off 'hunting hut' in the middle.

The 'hut' was rebuilt as a manor house in 1729. Today that main building is very sparsely furnished and supposedly haunted by the 'white lady', Hans' former servant who is said to have committed suicide after being raped by her master. Reportedly she's a 'friendly' ghost and is said to help keep the place tidy. Across the lane, an artificial twin-peaked hillock is marked with a flagpole. This is Søby Volde, earthen ramparts built before 1104 as a fortress to protect Ærø from rampaging Wends.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Voderup Klint

4.24 MILES

On the south coast of Ærø, around halfway across the island, tall banks of grassy moraine aren't exactly 'cliffs' but they make for great sunset-viewing…

2. Skjoldnæs Fyr

4.58 MILES

Pop a coin in the honesty box to climb this 19th-century, granite-block lighthouse. The viewing platform surveys surrounding golf greens and seascapes…

3. Det Gamle Værft

5.53 MILES

In a still-active mini ship-repair yard with century-old boats on the rear slipways, this memorable hands-on activities experience lets you hammer your…

4. Flaske Peters Samling

5.56 MILES

In what was once the poorhouse, peruse over 500 ships-in-bottles representing the amazing life’s work of Peter Jacobsen, nicknamed ‘Bottle Peter’.

5. Hammerichs Hus

5.57 MILES

Our favourite of Ærøskøbing’s lovable trio of little museums, half-timbered Hammerichs Hus is a gnarled, old hobbit-hole of a cottage, packed with…

6. Æro Museum

5.59 MILES

For now, this little museum is a classic clutter of domestic ethnographic items, ship paintings, furniture and glass cases that rattle as you walk by on…

7. Marstal Søfartsmuseum

10.54 MILES

You'll need an hour or two to do justice to this packed-full maritime museum with countless model ships, paintings, sea chests and grippingly realistic…

8. Faaborg Museum

12.19 MILES

In a tailor-made 1915 townhouse building with a flower-filled garden, this impressive gallery's 700-plus permanent collection focuses on the healthily…