Rinkenæs: Coast and the Gendarmstien

Rinkenæs brings together two questions for planning your trip: Which coastal and walking routes would you like to include, and which historic places interest you? The beach at Rinkenæs Nederby, the Gendarmstien, churches, and a memorial stone provide specific points of reference. If you are looking for a hotel in Rinkenæs, you can use these topics to decide what to focus on during your stay. The details below set out the beach, walk, and historic visits.

Beach and the Gendarmstien

The beach at Rinkenæs Nederby can be reached via Nederbyvej through Lærkelunden Camping or via the Gendarmstien. These are two named access routes; for your visit to the beach, you can choose the route that suits your planned outing.

The Gendarmstien is an 84-kilometer coastal walking route divided into five daily stages. The Tegl stage covers 20.3 kilometers from Sønderhav to Brunsnæs. For planning, it is useful to distinguish between a stage and the full route: the 20.3 kilometers refer to the named section, while 84 kilometers is the length of the route as a whole. The two distances give you different measures, depending on whether you are considering one stage or the entire coastal walking route.

On the Tegl stage, the route passes Rinkenæs Forfyr, the first of three small lighthouses on this section. At Lærkelunden Camping, the Gendarmstien follows the beach over two bridges and along the water in the direction of Alnor Strandpark. Sønderhav and Brunsnæs mark the start and finish of the Tegl stage; the reference to Alnor Strandpark, by contrast, describes the direction of the coastal section at Lærkelunden. When planning your route, it is worth distinguishing these endpoints from the directional reference.

Churches and local history

The 1848 memorial stone stands on Sejrsvej, opposite Benniksgaard. Alongside the churches, it provides another specifically named point of historical interest.

Rinkenæs Korskirke is closed to visitors during church services and on Danish public holidays. Bear this restriction in mind if you are planning a visit for a specific day.

Rinkenæs Gamle Kirke is about four kilometers outside Rinkenæs. It was built in 1158 and is one of the oldest churches in Denmark. Its year of construction places it in the 12th century; the 1848 memorial stone provides a much later historical reference point. The two places therefore offer different points of connection if you are interested in the history of the area.

For groups of five to ten people, talks and guided tours at Rinkenæs Gamle Kirke can be requested through Rinkenæs Sogn Menighedsråd. If you would like to plan a guided tour, check availability before your trip.

Discover more destinations: Skovby, Hardeshøj, Sønderborg, Holm, Broager, Rendbjerg, Guderup, Stenderup.

For the broader travel overview: Sønderborg Municipality.