Name and Location

Møns Fyr, also known as Møn Lighthouse, is a 19th-century coastal lighthouse situated on the chalk cliffs of Møns Klint, on the eastern shore of the island of Møn in southern Zealand, Denmark. The address is Fyrvej 5, 4791 Borre, Vordingborg Municipality, Region Zealand, Denmark.

Construction and History

Møns Fyr was built between 1843 and 1845 to guide shipping along the eastern Baltic coast. The original lighthouse was erected in a twin-tower ensemble, with two conjoined round towers connected by a gallery walkway at mid-height. In 1901, a taller, more powerful beacon was installed in a new brick tower further inland, while the original twin-towers remained as a reserve. The main light was decommissioned and replaced by an automated beacon in 1968, marking the end of its active service.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's architecture style is influenced by Historicist/Neoclassical elements typical of mid-19th-century Danish public works. The original configuration consisted of two conjoined round towers made of brick masonry, plastered and white-painted. In 1901, a free-standing cylindrical brick tower was built, featuring a lantern room and iron gallery.

Light and Navigation

The original light featured an oil-fed first-order Fresnel lens, producing a fixed white beam with red and green sectors. Later, the characteristic changed to Fl(2) W, visible up to 18 nautical miles. The focal height is approximately 130 meters above sea level, one of Europe's highest.

Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are open daily (free) year-round. The museum and café are open from April to October; guided tours of the towers can be arranged by appointment. Tower access is restricted, but occasional "lighthouse climb" events take place during the summer. Visitors can park at the Møns Klint visitor area and follow the marked coastal path (~500 meters uphill) to Fyrvej.

Notable Views and Landscape

The surrounding landscape features dramatic chalk cliffs rising from a coastal forest, offering panoramic views across the Baltic Sea toward the islands of Bogø and Nyord. The area is also rich in bird migration corridors, with migratory raptors, geese, and passerines visible from the tower gallery during spring and autumn.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local legend tells the story of a keeper's cat that once thwarted a shipwreck by warning its master of approaching fog, leading to the installation of the second, more powerful light in 1901.

Technical and Operational Details

• Chart reference: Admiralty NP 20; Danish chart no. 711.
• AIS/radar: No active marine radar on site; modern navigational beacons maintained by the Danish Maritime Authority are installed on adjacent ground.

Further Information

Opening hours (museum & café): 10:00–17:00 (Apr–Oct). Entrance fee to museum: DKK 50 (adults), DKK 25 (children). Guided tower tours: DKK 100; must be booked at least 24 hours in advance. On-site facilities include toilets, picnic areas, and a small shop selling local crafts.

Nearby Attractions

• GeoCenter Møns Klint (interactive geology museum)
• Møns Klint Museum (local history & maritime exhibits)
• Liselund Romantic Garden and Palace
• Høvblege Beach (chalk pebble beach and fossil hunting)