Faaborg – a market town for nearly 800 years

In 2029, Faaborg will celebrate its 800th anniversary as a market town, and its long history is evident in many parts of the city. On our tour of the town, we’ll hear, among other things, about its origins as a fortified settlement, about the town’s monasteries and churches before and after the Reformation, about the wealth of the merchant estates in the 1700s, about the significance of the Schleswig Wars for Faaborg, and about the influence of local artists.

Faaborg's long and dramatic history

Good (and not-so-good) political decisions that have shaped the city

Fåborg: The Gateway to the South Funen Archipelago

The future of a small provincial town with a long history

Chr. D. IX Street, Faaborg

City Gate

Faaborg Today

Faaborg is an old market town, but over the past 30 years it has lost many of the institutions and jobs that traditionally defined the town. These include the hospital, the police station, the town hall, the post office, and the town’s largest employer for the past 100 years—the slaughterhouse, which closed in 2016.

The city has redefined its identity

This has forced the city to rethink its identity and function, and during the tour we’ll hear, among other things, about the considerations behind the changes and investments made in the city over the past few decades. At the same time, we’ll look at the physical changes that have taken place or are currently underway—including in the harbor area and on the site of the old slaughterhouse.

The Bell Tower, Faaborg

Hospital Alley

Faaborg Museum

The Square, Faaborg

Faaborg in the Future

The South Funen Archipelago is a world-class destination, a fact confirmed when the area was designated a “UNESCO Global Geopark”. During the tour, we’ll hear about plans to strengthen Faaborg’s role as the gateway to the archipelago—including through an expansion of the Archipelago Museum and the opening of a new multi-purpose cultural center in the old slaughterhouse building in 2028.

Preserving Local Cultural Heritage

During the tour, we will also see and learn about the storm surge protection measures that have been approved and will be implemented over the coming years. How can we protect these historic buildings in a way that is both respectful of our cultural heritage and considerate of the many people who use the harbor?

That's what our guests say

I’ve lived in Svendborg for more than 30 years, and even though I thought I knew the town, this tour has taught me that places in town I’ve visited many times hold surprisingly fascinating stories. It was my first—but certainly not my last—time joining one of your city walks.

Emma Gad

Michael Laudrup

Poul Nyrup

B.S. Christiansen

Karen Blixen

Anton Berg

Hans Stavnsager's Faaborg

City walk of Faaborg with the former mayor