Vordingborg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vordingborg is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Storstrøm County on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in south Denmark. The municipality includes the island of Masnedø, and covers an area of 176 km². It has a total population of 20,691 (2005). Its mayor is Bent Pedersen, a member of the Social Democrats (Socialdemokraterne) political party.
The main town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Vordingborg.
Neighboring municipalities are Langebæk and Præstø to the east, Fladså and Næstved to the north (albeit Næstved is separated from Vordingborg by the waters of Karrebæksminde Bay (Karrebæksminde Bugt)) and Nørre Alslev on the island of Falster to the south (albeit separated from Vordingborg by the waters of Storstrømmen). To the west are (starting in the south) Rågø Strait (Rågø Sund), Avnø Fjord ending at the town of Næs and Karrebæksminde Bay.
The Masnedsund Bridge connects the town of Vordingborg to the island of Masnedø. The Storstrøm Bridge connects Masnedø to neighboring municipality Nørre Aslev on Falster near the town of Orehoved. The bridge is 3, 199 meters long, and supports two lanes of traffic, plus a single track of railroad. It was inaugurated in 1937.
The Farø Bridges (The Farø High Bridge and the Farø Low Bridge) opened in 1985, and connect the two municipalies from the town of Bakkebølle Strand over Farø island (part of Møn municipality) to Falster near the town of Sortsøgab.
By January 1, 2007 Vordingborg municipality will, as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipality Reform" of 2007), be merged with existing Langebæk, Møn, and Præstø municipalities to form an enlarged Vordingborg municipality. This will create a municipality with an area of 615 km² and a total population of 46,307 (2005). The municipality will belong to the new Region Sjælland ("Zealand Region").
[edit] The town of Vordingborg
The town of Vordingborg has a population of ca. 10,000 people.
It is an old ferry town with a rich history.
The ruins of Vordingborg Castle, the old royal castle which was built around 1364, is the town's most famous attraction. The only fully remaining part of the castle, the 26 meter tall Goose Tower (Gåsetårnet), is the symbol of the city. It is the largest of King Valdemar Atterdag's nine main castle towers. The name comes from the golden goose perched on top of the tower's spire. Although legend has it that Valdemar Atterdag used the symbol to taunt the Hanseatic League, the truth is the goose was first erected in 1871. The tower was transferred into the national trust on December 24, 1808, and is thus the first, protected historic monument in Denmark.
An historic garden is also located on the site of the ruin.
Vordingborg is the home of the South Zealand Museum (Sydsjællands Museum).
The city holds an annual festival, Vordingborg Fest Week (Vordingborg Festuge) in July.
Vordingborg Transmitter, one of the tallest towers in Denmark.
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- Municipal statistics: NetBorger Kommunefakta, delivered from KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)
- Municipal mergers and neighbors: Eniro new municipalities map
| Municipalities in Storstrøm County | |
|---|---|
|
Fakse | Fladså | Holeby | Holmegaard | Højreby | Langebæk | Maribo | Møn | Nakskov | Nykøbing Falster | Nysted | Næstved | Nørre Alslev | Præstø | Ravnsborg | Rudbjerg | Rødby | Rønnede | Sakskøbing | Stevns | Stubbekøbing | Suså | Sydfalster | Vordingborg |
|
 |
This Denmark location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
