VILLAGE LIFE ON ÆRØ Did you know that even the locals can get lost in beautiful Ommel? Or that Bregninge is the second-longest village in Denmark? THE VILLAGES ON ÆRØ ARE IN A CLASS OF THEIR OWN In addition to the large towns of Marstal, Ærøskøbing and Søby, the main roads on the island are liberally sprinkled with small villages. Drive through the village streets and soak up the undisturbed idyll. Cows, horses and sheep graze on the fertile fields bordered by dikes and hedges, which surround the small, neatly kept houses and farms. Gardens bur-
sting with flowers and fruit trees line the main street, while the village pond is home to ducks and other local fauna. VILLAGE TREATS Even though you may have decided to stay in one of the larger towns on the island during your holiday, there is every reason to take a drive to one of the small villages nearby. For example, you could visit Ærø Bryggeri (Brewery) in Store Rise or the Tree & Earth Creams workshop in Skovby. You can also go on a shopping expedition to Herremark just outside Søby, or buy delightful soaps from Ærø Soap Company in Bregninge. This is
also where you will find Uldgården, a large farm shop with a difference, selling all kinds of soft garments, shoes, local delicacies and more. Ommel is a village that actually has two separate harbours: Kleven and Strand byen. Cycle Route 92 runs through Kragnæs, which is also home to the lifestyle shop Færgevej46. In Græsvænge, you can visit the Etablis sement shop to buy traditional arts and crafts items, while in Bregninge you can visit Den Bibelske Have (The Biblical Garden). For details of all village sights and attrac tions, see visitaeroe.com/villagelife. THE VILLAGE CHURCHES STILL STAND A common trait of many of the villages on Ærø is that they have their own churches, which are symbols of the small communities that still exist on the island. In fact, Ærø boasts no fewer than seven churches, each with its own distinctive features. Rise Church is the oldest one on the island, with a history stretching back to the 1100s. Bregninge Church is the only roadside church on Ærø and there are guided tours throughout the summer. One peculiar feature of the churches in Rise, Tranderup and Bregninge is their circular graveyards. For the opening hours of all the churches, see page 47.
12 > Ærø Guide 2022
