Møns Klint
White Cliffs of Møn
Møns Klint (Mons Klint – or Moens Klint – originating from the old Danish word ‘mo’ meaning chalk) is the spectacular range of white cliffs along the Danish island Møn (Mon / Moen), located in the southeastern corner of Denmark at the Baltic Sea – it is less than a 2-hour drive from Copenhagen to the Cliffs of Møn. Here, you will find several outstanding walking routes, allowing you to explore the astonishing terrain and unique steep white cliffs.
Photo: Travel In Culture
It is an eye-catching 6 km long chalky phenomenon whose foundation was laid millions of years ago by algae and aquatic animals in the tropical sea. Over time, these caused limestone plates to emerge on the seabed, this being the early beginning of the remarkable chalk cliffs. Later, about 11,000 years ago, the colossal Ice Age glaciers of the last Ice Age pushed the chalk flakes, folded the resulting chalk layers, and turned them into the pristine white cliffs as we know them today.
Photo: Erika Baldo / Pixabay
Møns Klint constantly transforms. Natural erosion ‘eats’ the cliffs every year. Rockslides can occur, and the last major incident was in 2007 when a large part of a cliff, Store Taler, slid into the Baltic! It was the most significant chalk slide here for over 50 years.
The picturesque formation Sommerspiret vanished in 1988. That was a big loss as it had been the towering landmark of Møns Klint and a favourite motif of the Danish Golden Age landscape painters such as Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg and Frederik Hansen Sødring.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Slightly more than a hundred years ago, in 1905, one-third of the nearby Liselund Park also disappeared into the sea. Nevertheless, the fantastic Liselund baroque garden, situated all close to the cliffs at the northern end, is still well worth a visit. The garden features picturesque ponds and rolling lawns – all designed by Antoine de la Calmette for his wife Elisabeth (Lise) towards the end of the 18th century.
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The beauty of Møns Klint is particularly extraordinary on a sunny day when the outstanding white chalky cliffs, falling into the emerald green or turquoise Baltic, stand as a snow-white silhouette against the blue sky.
Vertically spanning up to 128 metres, the cliffs majestically rise above the sea, with Dronningestolen being the tallest.
Photo: Melanie van de Sande / Pixabay
You can either hike the cliffs using the sublime wooden walkways and signposted circuits, use the mountain bike routes, try the zip lines, engage in snorkelling, or visit from the waterside – each thing enabling you to enjoy slightly different panoramic views of the strikingly dramatic white cliffs.
There are both ‘aerial’ walkways atop the spectacular cliffs and the option to hike along the beach at the foot of the steep cliffside. The upper and lower paths are interconnected through three stairways, adequately interrupted by scenic viewpoints providing incredible views and platforms naturally created along the cliffside. So, despite hundreds of steps up or down, one can divide the ascent or descent into some reasonable stages.
Photo: Travel In Culture
If you wish to explore Møns Klint from the seaside, you can take a boat tour (the Discovery 2-hour tour) from the nearby Klintholm Havn. It is a small seaside village founded in 1878 by Scavenius, intended for the export of goods from the Klintholm Estate. Later, the eel and herring fishing industry took over, and still today, buildings relating to this industry remain. One is the old eel house, now converted into a restaurant. In summer, it is a lively place with fishing boats, leisure sailors, visitors, restaurants (even a beach food market), the bar Pier to Heaven, stretches of beach and more.
Photo: Kordula Vahle / Pixabay
For fossil hunting, the beach along Møns Klint is also just perfect! You can find fossils up to 70 million years old, left inside the limestone material originating from the microscopic creatures living on the seabed at that time. The chalk slides in 2007 revealed great new opportunities for fossil hunters!
The forest above the cliffs, Klinteskoven, contains many impressive beech trees and a variety of rare orchid species and other plants – unique in Denmark. Orchids can grow here due to the chalky underground, which is ideal conditions for the flowers. Also, a rare large blue butterfly exists here.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Moreover, more than a hundred burial mounds have been found here, most dating from the Bronze Age but, in some cases, as far back as the Neolithic period.
If you are interested in birdlife, you should look out for the unique peregrine falcons that nest and inhabit Møns Klint – and, with a little luck, you may spot one! It is the world’s fastest animal, flying more than 300 km/hour. After not being seen in Denmark for 30 years, it is again breeding at Møns Klint, using the cliffs as an apt nesting site.
Photo: Travel In Culture
At the top of Møns Klint, you should visit the Geocenter Møns Klint, the geological museum opened in 2007, where you can trace the geological prehistory, as well as discover the formation of the chalk cliffs and the surrounding landscape through interactive exhibitions, workshops, virtual reality experiences, 3D cinema and much more.
Photo: Kordula Vahle / Pixabay
Other places of interest in Møn include Stege, the main town in Møn. It is one of the oldest market towns in Denmark, which celebrated its 750th anniversary in 2018. In the Middle Ages, Stege already played a significant role in the Øresund herring fishery. The herrings from here were so plentiful that they contributed to one-third of the Danish fish market in Falsterbo.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Today, the town still commemorates the old herring days by holding the annual ‘Herring Market’, besides the always popular Tuesday markets throughout summer.
Strolling around Stege – maybe doing the historical walk the Herring Route, you will notice many remains from the Middle Ages, for instance, the town ramparts, ‘Mølleporten’ which is a fine example of a medieval Danish town gate, a medieval castle from the 13th century, as well as several old warehouses.
Photo: Travel In Culture
The spectacular Sct. Hans Church is the largest market town church in Denmark, likewise dating back to the 13th century. Inside, you will discover the finest frescoes adorning the vaults.
Photo: Travel In Culture
The island Nyord used to be the property of the King, but in 1769 it was bought by 20 local farmers. Today, the island and the surrounding shallow sea are rich in birdlife and are a sheer paradise where migratory birds flock and rest on their migratory route. The meadows are home to a large number of ducks and waders that breed there. You can opt to explore the surroundings by kayak! Another sight on Nyord is the octagonal church!
To fully enjoy the striking landscapes of Møn, you will do Camønoen, an increasingly popular 175 km long Danish ‘camino’ across Møn, Bogø and Nyord – of course, inspired by the renowned pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela in Spain – but with its Danish landscape character.
Other beautiful chalky locations in this part of Denmark count Stevns Klint (Cliffs of Stevns) and Faxe Kalkbrud (Faxe Limestone Quarry) – which are worthwhile places to include in your itinerary if you make a round trip by car from Copenhagen.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Faxe Kalkbrud has been the site of limestone production for over 900 years. The fossils left behind are the remains of the world’s oldest fossilised deep-water coral reef, formed 63 million years ago and home to sharks, crocodiles and other fascinating animals. Visiting the quarry with the scenic azure lake, you will be able to find fossilised corals, shark teeth, snails, crabs and more. To dive further into the geological phenomena and admire some of the numerous fossils excavated here, you may also visit the Geomuseum Faxe at the quarry.
Stevns Klint, the 20 km long cliff rising to 41 metres above sea level, is another fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Site that boasts an abundance of fossils. At the same time, it is the result of the asteroid hitting the globe 66 million years ago, eliminating the dinosaurs!
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Møns Klint / Mons Klint Denmark – White Cliffs of Møn / Mon
Møns Klint / Mons Cliffs – Møn / Mon Klint
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Møns Klint / Mons Klint – White Cliffs of Møn (Mon):
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