Lyø

7 kilometers southwest of Faaborg you find Lyø, an island of 605 HA. ..It is a pearl of an island with a lot to offer, although with the advent of modern times, its isolation is somewhat lessened.
Transportation from the mainland to the island is by way of a high-speed motor ferry. You are greeted by the sight of numerous sailing boats, moored side by side in the harbour below the old customs office.
The western part of the island is smooth and low, with several hills on the eastern side. In the middle you find Lyø Village with its church, dating from Reformation times, and its peculiar, round churchyard. The narrow alleys wind between beautiful, old half-timbered houses and five village ponds. Many of the houses date from the 1700s, and a few even earlier. The village of Lyø is considered one of the most interesting village environments in Denmark.  Mouth-blown window panes, wooden locks in the doors, and various characteristic decorations are among the unique features preserved from the past. Most of the roofs are thatched, and lovely, well-kept little gardens enclose the houses.

The few newer houses have been harmonically integrated into the old environment. All the same, far from being a museum, Lyø is a well-functioning, modern community, unifying tradition and innovation. Lyø has a post office, a bank, a school, and the necessary stores. Bicycle rental, and pony rental for the children.

The beaches are nice, and anglers stand a good chance of a satisfying catch. There are camping spaces, rooms, and entire houses for rent. On the north shore is the boating harbour with 50 mooring booths available, as well as toilet, showering, laundry and shopping facilities .

History
King attacked!
Several sepulchral mounds testify to Lyø's prehistoric inhabitation. The present population descends from 24 peasant families, which were banished to the island in the 1540es, in consequence of a failed attempt of revolt against their squire. Many of these families have presumably kept the same farms ever since. The lyø farmers were among the last copy-holders in Denmark. Only after WW 1 the remaining farmers became freeholders. 
A royal drama once took place on Lyø: Less than 100 metres behind the customs along the western shore, is the so-called "King's Meadow", the place where the Danish King  , Valdemar the Victorious, was captured in the year 1223 by the infamous Count Heinrich of Schwerin, also known as "Black Heinrich", during a hunting trip to the island. The King was imprisoned at the stronghold, "Dannebrog", where the Count was able to repel the ensuing attack by the Danes. In 1225 the King was forced to expend 45.000 thousand marks on his release, and at the same time forswear all attempts at retaliation. This was, however, a one-time event, the 143 Lyø inhabitants hasten to assure prospective visitors, who should feel assured of a tranquil welcome to their island.

The town of Lyø
Lyø boasts the smallest post office in the country, with oaken posts and a thatched roof radiating preservation-worthy beauty.
 In the centre of Lyø Village by one of the 5 ponds, stands the church, built right after the Reformation, and surrounded by the only round churchyard in the country, its graves reminiscent of renaissance gardens, still being tended by the island families.  Near the church you find the vicarage, and also the prettiest and best preserved 4-winged farm on the island; it is now protected by law to ensure its future preservation in its present shape. Dating from the 1700, and owned by Mads, Agnes and Christen Jørgensen, has an acreage of 21 HA. Like several other farms on the island, theirs was once dependent on the estate of Holstenshuus by Faaborg. Viewed from the villlage the adjoing old peasant garden is a lovely sight with its boxwood hedges and lurid flowerbeds.

Scenery
The islanders of Lyø distinguish themselves by their awareness of the old, cherished architecture, which they seek to preserve for the future.  "Elmekilde", south of the village, is a very beautiful and well-kept half-timbered farm building from 1873, which houses a well-preserved clog-shop. The building was the last in this particular style erected on the island. 

No more deer-hunting:
A fine population of roe deer in one of the island's small forests was initiated in 1973, the 100th anniverary of "Elmekilde", when the Hunting Club of Lyø purchased two hinds and a buck.  For centuries up till then, there had been no deer on the island. Other forms of game and wildlife abound.  The reef is a must for the naturalist. Among the blooming "English Grass", young larks, gulls, magpies, clydes, and especially lapwings, run around the grazing heifers, while the parent birds hovering keep a close watch of the meadows and fields below.  The young lapwings are responsible for their own keep, but so are the marsh hawks, suddenly materializing out of the blue, with the obvious consequence. There are 4 breeding couples of this hawk species on the island. Sometimes other peculiar birds visit the island, such as the Wootan cock, ruff, and breeding dwarf gulls and eider ducks. 

Anglers are in for a treat: Better sites than those on Lyø can hardly be imagined! At »Anes Kiste« - right after the point of the reef, quite a few sea trout have been landed! Further down the coast, right opposite the barrow-mound, "The Bell Stone" from the Peasants' Stone Age, in 1992, a 10 kilo blank-fish was taken.
Whereas there originally were 52 mounds and barrows on Lyø, a mere 5 remain. The 47 main stones were cloven and utilized as founding-stones under the island's farm houses. The last of the recycled barrows provides the foundation for the house of "Faldmoseholm", built in 1890.

Anglers, bathers, and hikers can look forward to a visit to the island. The former will verify, that nowhere can cleaner water be found, while the latter categories will be pleased to find that the island measures a mere 4 kilometers across.
All in all: Although you may not actually participate in the traditional hare-catching (a running-event!), or the summer weather should act up, you are not likely to regret a visit to Lyø!
The idyllic roads with the characteristic poplars are always worth viewing - just as its service amenities, church, school, post office, inn, stores, home nurses, pharmacyapothecary sales, blacksmith, carpenter and accounting office all see to it that everyone's every need is taken care of.