Ærøskøbing Handelshafen

Description

NV Cruising Guide

Navigation

The approach to the fired harbor is possible day and night. It is from the north via a buoyed channel, the "Møllegab". At night, a directional light, though dim (2 F.G), leads at 196° from the approach buoy to the entrance of the commercial port (not to be confused with the pier light). In the inner part of the channel, the buoyed fairway branches off to the right to the marina, whose pier heads are lit in summer (Fl.G + Fl.R).

Berths

Either guest boats are in the north marina "Vestre Bådehavn" on 1.7 - 2.5m water depth or in the mainly for large yachts more suitable commercial port on 3.5 - 4.5m water depth. The ferry dock may not be used. During the vacation season, the berths in the commercial port are scarce.

Guest berths as of 06/2020

12 - 15 m.     DKK 200 incl. electricity

Anchorage: A quite good anchorage can be found about 200 m southeast of the commercial port on 4 - 5m water depth.

Surroundings

All supplies in the village, do not forget to visit the maritime museum.

Ferry to Svendborg.

NV Land Guide

Time seems to have stood still in the old seaside town. It doesn't take much imagination to picture life and activity here in the 18th century. The colorfully painted houses of the old harbor town, many of which are listed, the original narrow cobblestone streets and the preserved town hall square form a cohesive townscape that is not disturbed by modern buildings. Because the low half-timbered buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries, with their small windows and doors, sometimes look like doll's houses, Ærøskøbing is also called a fairy-tale or toy town. Complete streets have been preserved in their original appearance.

The square Kogehuset in the old harbor dates back to a royal ban in the 17th century to prevent ship fires. The sailors were often so close together in the harbor that it usually did not remain with the fire of a single ship once fire had broken out. It was even forbidden to set up a candle on board, subject to a hefty fine. Foreign ships had to pay for its use. Around 1860 the cookhouse lost its original function, after that the fishermen used the house to tar their nets. In the meantime, the historic cookhouse serves its original purpose again. It offers as wind-protected grill place the possibility for 'sailors' to prepare meals - as in old times.

In the old market and merchant town is also one of the oldest post offices in Denmark from the time around 1750. Doll house is called the smallest house of the idyllic town (in the Smedegade).

Numerous very well-kept half-timbered houses with magnificent front doors and characteristic wooden windows complete the picture of a Danish town 200 to 300 years ago.

After all, the oldest house in Ærøskøbing dates from 1645, and is the Kjøbinghus in Søndergade.

Although Ærøskøbing was home port for nearly 100 ships around 1850, the town lost its importance as a trading port over time, because it lost out in competition to Marstal, which is conveniently located on the eastern tip of the island.

The decline of maritime traffic also goes hand in hand with the severance of the connection to the Schleswigian duchies in 1864, because much of the trade was based on this connection.

The pledging of the island to a count of Schleswig in the 14th century had created the Schleswig-Ærø axis, and although the island returned to the Danish crown as early as 1749, Ærø remained part of the Schleswig district for another 115 years due to special arrangements. This connection can still be seen today in the oriel houses typical of Schleswig. The trade monopoly on Ærø granted by Christian II around 1520 was decisive for the development of the town. However, it is estimated that the first port facility was already established in the 15th century.

Three museums exist in the picture-book town of Ærøskøbing. The Ærø Museum in Brogade gives a comprehensive impression of the development of the small town and the island of Ærø, with a wide-ranging collection of memorabilia from the time when Ærø still belonged to the Schleswig duchies. Several hundred bottle and model ships can be seen in Smedegade 22 in the museum courtyard. The sailor Peter Jacobsen started the unique collection and also built many of the models himself on free watch aboard the old sailing ships. He is said to have created 1700 ships in bottles and 150 models of sailing ships by the time of his death. Some of the replicas are fully rigged. Even in the church in the southeastern part of the island's capital, which is worth seeing, four ship models hang. The so-called Hammerichs House on the corner of Brogade and Gyden has also been set up as a museum. It dates from around 1700 and was the residence of the sculptor of the same name. All kinds of furniture, household objects and curiosities of bygone days give an insight into the former island life, which was strongly influenced by Northern Schleswig. Maritime things can be experienced at first hand in the "Old Shipyard", where traditional, partly forgotten crafts related to shipbuilding and takelei can be shown and tried out. The Events in addition are a unique experience for the whole family.

In an exhibition room filled with Fayencen one finds pairs of porcelain dogs, with which it has a special meaning: The dogs brought by the sailors from England were placed there by the light girls in their windows to indicate whether they were busy or not. If the dogs looked at each other, suitors were welcome. If they stood with their backs to each other, the girls were at work. The customers had to buy the dogs after the shepherd's session, as the strumpets were not allowed to charge money for their services. The sea is said to be paved with the porcelain dogs, which the sailors did not dare to bring home.

One of the special features of the beautiful old marketplace are two historic wooden pumps, which are still pumping water until 1952 and are now jewelry of the square at the old town hall.

To explore the island of Ærø, the bus connections, which can be used free of charge all year round, are offered. Dogs are also transported and even bicycles (if space is available).

Marina Information

Contact

Surroundings

Electricity

Water

Toilet

Shower

Restaurant

Imbiss

Atm

Fuel

Grocery

Public Transport

Bikerental

Garbage

Sewage