Askeby
Fanefjord Kirke and long barrow in the south-west of Møn. Wall paintings, a 100-metre Stone Age tomb and a quiet coast on the Grønsund
Askeby is a place in the south-west of Møn, 11 km and about 15 minutes by car from Stege (OSRM, October 2026). Two things under the postcode 4792 Askeby are the reason to come: Fanefjord Kirke with its wall paintings and the long barrow Grønjægers Høj. There is no abbey here, as the name might suggest. Askeby Abbey stood in Sweden.
Location and map
Askeby lies on Vestmøn, the western part of the island, near the Fanefjord and the Grønsund, the strait between Møn and Falster. Hårbølle with its harbour and beach is 4.4 km away and Stege 11.4 km (driving distance from the village centre, October 2026). The area is rural: fields, woodland by the Fanefjord and a few farms.
- 1: Askeby (village centre)
- 2: Fanefjord Kirke
- 3: Grønjægers Høj (Grønsalen)
- 4: Fanefjord Skovpavillon
- 5: Isle of Møn Spirits
- 6: Hårbølle
- 7: Stege
Askeby Abbey: mistaken for Sweden
Anyone searching for "Askeby Abbey" often ends up in Östergötland. There, near Linköping, stood a Cistercian nunnery called Askeby. It was founded in the second half of the 12th century and dissolved in 1529, and the nuns moved to Vreta Abbey (Wikipedia, Askeby Abbey). The Askeby on Møn has no abbey ruin. If you are looking for medieval architecture on Møn, you will find it in the village churches.
What to see
Two destinations in the south-west are worth the trip: a village church with medieval paintings and a Stone Age tomb, both within a few minutes of each other.
Fanefjord Kirke
The church stands free on a small hill in the south-west of the island, at the innermost corner of the Fanefjord (lex.dk). The nave dates from the second half of the 13th century, with datings ranging from about 1275 to 1300. The vaults were added in the late 15th century and the chancel in the early 16th century.
The wall paintings date from two periods. On the chancel arch is a High Gothic decoration of around 1350, with four medallions of the Evangelists below it. Around 1500 the Elmelunde Master and his assistants painted the walls and eight vaults with pictures from the Biblia Pauperum, the Poor Man's Bible (da.wikipedia). lex.dk gives 1500 to 1520 for the Elmelunde workshop. The paintings were restored in 2008 to 2009. The furnishings include a late Romanesque font of Gotland limestone and a pulpit from around 1645.
The church doors are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm (fanefjordkirke.dk, as of October 2026). The same workshop painted in Keldby and in Elmelunde. From Fanefjord Kirke it is 19 km to Keldby and 24 km to Elmelunde (OSRM, October 2026).
Grønjægers Høj
A few hundred metres south of the church, at Fanefjord Kirkevej 55, lies the long barrow Grønjægers Høj, also called Grønsalen. It is just over 100 m long (102 m according to Visit Sydsjælland & Møn), has three burial chambers and is estimated at around 3500 BC. The dating is based on its form, not on an excavation. According to Wikipedia it is the largest long barrow in Denmark. Bishop Münter examined it in 1810, and it has been legally protected since. The site is accessible all year.
Other tombs on Vestmøn
North-west of Sprove is Kong Asgers Høj (Kong Asgers Vej), a passage grave with a passage 10 m long and a chamber 10 m long. Klekkende Høj (Klekkendevej 2) has two passages and a chamber 9 m long. You can go inside both tombs (moensklint.dk, as of October 2026). From Askeby it is about 7 km by road to Kong Asgers Høj.
Coast and beach
For a swim, go to Hårbølle on the Grønsund. The page Bathing on Møn compares the island's beaches, and more on the place is under Hårbølle.
Eating and drinking
The Fanefjord Skovpavillon (Fanefjord Skovvej 6) is a woodland restaurant with traditional cooking, open only Thursday to Sunday in the winter half-year. Isle of Møn Spirits at Fanefjordgade 12 distils gin and schnapps in an old barn, with guided tours and tastings by appointment. Opening times and details are on the page Restaurants on Møn.
Where to stay
In the south-west of Møn there are holiday homes, small guesthouses and B&Bs, including Pia´s Guesthouse in Askeby and Møn Økologisk B&B on Fanefjordgade. The page Bed & Breakfast on Møn gives locations and beds, and Holiday homes on Møn covers the holiday homes. For all types together there is the overview Accommodation on Møn.
Where to stay
Where to stay in and around Askeby
Partner links: we earn a commission on bookings, the price does not change for you.
Guesthouse / B&B · HårbøllePia´s GuesthousePrices on Booking.com: Pia´s Guesthouse
Hotel · NyordFeriecentret Østersø FærgegårdPrices on Booking.com: Feriecentret Østersø Færgegård
Guesthouse / B&B · Bogø ByStub Inn GuesthousePrices on Booking.com: Stub Inn Guesthouse
Selected by guest rating on Booking.com, as of 30 October 2026.
Practical information
Askeby is away from the main sights: Møns Klint is 31 km by road from here (OSRM, October 2026), a good 35 minutes. Plan the south-west as a day of its own with the church, long barrow and beach. You can shop in Stege, and how to get to the island is on the page Getting to Møn.
More places
- Hårbølle: harbour and beach on the Grønsund
- Keldby: village with wall paintings by the Elmelunde Master
- Stege: main town with a harbour and Mølleporten
- Borre: village in the east, near the chalk cliffs
Sources and last update
As of 31 October 2026
- Wikipedia (en): Askeby Abbey
- Wikipedia (en): Fanefjord Church
- Wikipedia (da): Fanefjord Kirke
- Lex – Den Store Danske: Fanefjord Kirke
- fanefjordkirke.dk
- Wikipedia (en): Grønsalen
- Visit Sydsjælland & Møn: Groenjaeger hoejgroensalen
- GeoCenter Møns Klint: Gravhoje
- OpenStreetMap Nominatim (coordinates) and router.project-osrm.org (driving distances, October 2026)
FAQ
Where is Askeby?
Askeby is in the south-west of the island of Møn, about 11 km by road and around 15 minutes from Stege (OSRM, October 2026). The postcode 4792 Askeby also covers Fanefjord Kirke and Grønjægers Høj.
Is there an abbey in Askeby?
Not on Møn. Askeby Abbey, which many people search for, was a Cistercian nunnery near Linköping in Sweden. It was founded in the second half of the 12th century and dissolved in 1529 (Wikipedia, Askeby Abbey). There is no abbey ruin in the village of Askeby on Møn.
What is Fanefjord Kirke?
A village church on a small hill at the innermost corner of the Fanefjord, Fanefjord Kirkevej 51, 4792 Askeby. The nave dates from the second half of the 13th century, the paintings on the chancel arch from around 1350, and those on the walls and vaults from around 1500 (da.wikipedia, lex.dk).
When is Fanefjord Kirke open?
The church doors are open daily from 8 am to 6 pm (fanefjordkirke.dk, as of October 2026). The church is a place of worship, and consideration matters during services.
What is Grønjægers Høj?
A Stone Age long barrow, also called Grønsalen, at Fanefjord Kirkevej 55. It is just over 100 m long, contains three burial chambers and is dated to around 3500 BC, estimated from its form. According to Wikipedia it is the largest long barrow in Denmark. It is open all year (sydsjaellandmoen.dk).
Are there other burial mounds in the south-west?
Yes. Near Sprove are Kong Asgers Høj, with a passage 10 m long and a chamber 10 m long, and Klekkende Høj, whose chamber is 9 m long. You can enter both (moensklint.dk, as of October 2026). From Askeby it is about 7 km by road to Kong Asgers Høj.
Can you stay overnight in Askeby?
Yes. According to Stay22, Pia´s Guesthouse in Askeby has three bedrooms and room for up to six guests, and there is also Møn Økologisk B&B on Fanefjordgade (as of October 2026). The list on this page shows available holiday homes.
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