Vellinge Between Nature and History

Vellinge has eleven nature reserves and six Natura 2000 sites. There are also opportunities for cycling, birdwatching and exploring historic places. As you plan your stay, you can consider which of these interests will shape your visit—and take the relevant time periods into account when seasonal offerings are available.

Nature, Views and Cycle Routes

Måkläppen Nature Reserve can be visited in November, December and January. Check the current rules for the protected area before your visit. For a different perspective on the landscape, head to Gavelsbjer: this 25-metre-high moraine hill offers sweeping views over Söderslätt. Paths lead to the summit, where there is a rest area and a viewpoint.

The season at Falsterbo Bird Observatory is also clearly defined: the observatory leads groups during the ringing seasons from April to May and from August to October. Check booking status before your trip. The Foteviksområdet area also has several good birdwatching spots. The time periods differ considerably: Måkläppen is intended for winter visits, while group tours at the observatory take place during two periods from spring to autumn.

For cyclists, Sydkustleden is a coastal cycle route with six stages; there are 260 kilometres of cycle routes in total. The stages give the route a clear structure, while the total length of the routes is also useful when planning beyond a single stage.

Museums and Experiences

Foteviken Museum focuses on life in a town during the late Viking Age and early Middle Ages. The reconstructed Viking settlement includes 23 buildings of different types. You can also see a reconstructed Viking ship based on an archaeological find from Foteviken. Viking Age games, archery, axe throwing and a mini archaeologist activity round out the museum visit. A shop, café and restaurant are also part of the offering.

Falsterbo Photo Art Museum is a modern photography museum in Falsterbo at Falsterbo Strandbad. Its collection comprises around 700 original photographs. The museum also has a restaurant serving Nordic cuisine with French inspiration and Asian influences; it is open seasonally. The approximate number of photographs gives an idea of the collection, while the cuisine adds its own distinctive culinary touch.

Falsterbo Museum presents exhibitions spanning the Hanseatic period to the present day. At Bärnstensmuseet, next to the Viking Age archaeological site of Kämpinge vall, topics range from insects and arachnids trapped in amber to Stone Age finds from Måkläppen. The museums therefore offer different ways to explore the past, from historical exhibitions and archaeological finds to a collection that focuses on natural specimens preserved in amber.

Churches, Lighthouse and Fortress Ruins

Stora Hammars gamla kyrka is the oldest church on the Falsterbo Peninsula; its oldest parts date from around 1150. The oldest part of the nave features paintings depicting the Creation, the Passion of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ. Visiting is subject to specific conditions: the church is open when staff are present, during church activities or services, and by prior arrangement.

The oldest parts of Vellinge Church date from the 13th century. It was originally built according to the Romanesque style of architecture. Inside, an altarpiece from 1608 and a pulpit dated 1606 have been preserved. Visitors are welcome to sit down, light a candle and write in the guestbook.

The names of two medieval churches also refer to their dedications: Skanör Church is dedicated to Saint Olof and is therefore called S:t Olofs kyrka. Falsterbo Church is dedicated to Saint Gertrude and is therefore called S:ta Gertruds kyrka. The documented construction dates of the fortress sites span the 13th to the 16th centuries: Skanör Fortress was built around 1230, and the ruins of Falsterbohus date from around 1315. Månstorp’s Eaves are the ruins of a Renaissance fortress built between 1540 and 1547. The different dates help place the sites in time without grouping them into a single construction period.

The light at Falsterbo Lighthouse was extinguished in 1990 and switched on again three years later for the benefit of tourists and local residents. If you are looking for tourist information in person, staffed Info Points provide brochures, maps and basic information. Individual locations may change.

Explore More Destinations

Explore more destinations: Falsterbo, Skanör, Höllviken, Vellinge, Vastra Ingelstad, Osby, Bromölla, Lomma.

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