Alrø Church |
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Horsens Fjord |
| Area | 7.5 km2 (2.9 sq mi) |
| Country | |
| Region | Central Denmark Region |
| Municipality | Horsens Municipality |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 160 (as of 2010) |
| Density | 21.3 /km2 (55.2 /sq mi) |
Alrø is a small Danish island in Horsens Fjord on the east coast of Jutland within Odder Municipality. With an area of 7.5 km2, as of 1 January 2010 it has a population of 160.[1] The island is 7 km long and 4 km wide at the widest point. It can be reached by road over the dam which connects it to the mainland on the northern side of the fjord.[2]
Alrø has been inhabited since the Stone Age. It has a small Romanesque church which dates from the 14th century.[3]
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While there is evidence that the island has been inhabited since about 5000 BC, the first historical reference is in King Valdemar's Jordbog (land register) in 1230, indicating that Alrø, like many of the Danish islands, belonged to the Crown. In the 14th century, it came under the bishopric of Aarhus but at the time of the Reformation (1536) it returned to the Crown.[4]
In 1661, King Frederik III gave Alrø and nearby Endelave to Nields Banner, his vassal for the Aarkær estate on the mainland. It changed hands several times until around 1700 when the Rosemeier family from Westphalia gained ownership of the island through marriage. The Rosemeiers continued to live on Alrø's farms over the following centuries, some members of the family still living there today. Since the end of the 18th century, the families on Alrø became the owners of their properties. Slowly farms were built across the island, creating a strong agricultural community.[4]
Until 1970, the island had its own school, library, shops, filling station and bus service but today, as a result of the small population, they no longer exist. There is however an Italian restaurant and a café which also deals in antiques. There are no summerhouses or tourist facilities on the island.[4]
Although there are no facilities for overnight accommodation on the island, the tourist office in nearby Odder provides information on bird-watching and canoeing. In the summer, there is also a ferry to the island which takes passengers and cycles but not cars.