Stiftsmuseet Maribo

A museum at the crossroads of town and history

Stiftsmuseet Maribo sits right in the middle of town, in a solid late-19th‑century brick building that once embodied civic pride and confidence. Today it serves as the main cultural-historical museum for Lolland-Falster, drawing together 10,000 years of human life on these low, fertile islands. Just outside, trains and bikes come and go; inside, time slows as you move from prehistory to the present through carefully staged rooms and atmospheric lighting. The foyer sets the tone with polished floors, high ceilings and a sense of quiet anticipation. It is here that you first meet the museum’s rune stones, their carved surfaces catching the light, hinting at Viking Age communities and their commemorations. From this central space, staircases lead to upper levels while doors open into modern, narrative-led galleries on the ground floor.

Lola and the deep time of Lolland

The star of the museum’s archaeological story is “Lola”, a Stone Age girl whose existence was reconstructed from DNA preserved in a piece of birch-bark chewing gum unearthed during excavations on Lolland. In the dedicated exhibition, soundscapes, thoughtful lighting and tactile reconstructions bring her world to life: wetlands rich in game, simple tools, and the everyday tasks of a community living here about 5,700 years ago. Rather than presenting objects in isolation, the exhibition invites you into Lola’s imagined day. You see tools like flint blades and bone points, but also traces of diet, health and appearance derived from scientific analysis. It is an engaging blend of hard data and careful speculation, showing how archaeology and genetics can illuminate a single human life from deep prehistory.

Faith, imagery and the OMG gallery

Another highlight is the OMG (Oh My God) exhibition, which explores medieval Christianity on Lolland-Falster. In a series of low-lit rooms, crucifixes, altarpieces and carved figures create an intimate encounter with the religious imagination of the Middle Ages. Spotlights pick out flaking paint and delicate carvings, while displays unpack the symbolism embedded in the objects. Alongside church art, the exhibition explains how local churches were built and decorated, drawing attention to fresco fragments and architectural details that many pass by without noticing. The result is a glimpse into a time when these islands were dotted with richly painted interiors and when faith shaped everyday rhythms, from work in the fields to rituals around birth and death.

Rune stones, storm surges and living landscapes

Back in the foyer, the Sædinge and Skovlænge rune stones stand almost like silent hosts, their inscriptions testifying to people who named each other, claimed land and remembered the dead over a thousand years ago. Their presence anchors the museum in the wider story of the Danish kingdom and its early Christianization. Another exhibition, STORM, turns to the drama of the sea and weather. In a darkened space, films and testimonies evoke devastating storm surges that have reshaped these low-lying coasts. The contrast with the calm galleries elsewhere in the museum is striking and emphasizes how vulnerable, yet resilient, the islands have always been. Together, these displays connect environmental forces, human settlement and the long-term shaping of the landscape.

Atmosphere, accessibility and practical comforts

The building’s three levels are arranged in spacious, mostly bright rooms, with a few sections deliberately darkened for effect. Some areas use motion-sensitive lighting and sound, from the chirping birds of Lola’s world to the more intense audio of the storm exhibition. The ground floor, including the shop, tourist information point and OMG gallery, is accessible via a ramp, while upper floors are reached by wide staircases with handrails. Facilities include restrooms, a small shop and nearby parking on Banegårdspladsen. The museum is used for seasonal events such as children’s activities around the Stone Age and guided tours focused on Lola’s world, reinforcing its role as a local hub for history and learning.

Planning a visit alongside Maribo’s other gems

Although compact, Stiftsmuseet Maribo rewards an unhurried visit of one to two hours, especially if you take time to read the interpretive texts and watch the films in full. Its central location makes it easy to combine with a stroll to the lakes of Nature Park Maribosøerne or to the nearby open-air museum of historic houses. Whether you are tracing the evolution of belief, following the shoreline through stormy centuries or looking into the eyes of a reconstructed Stone Age girl, the museum offers a coherent narrative of Lolland-Falster as a lived-in landscape. It is an ideal introduction to the region’s character before you venture further into its villages, coasts and forests.