Background

Møns Museum, Empiregården

Local history, island geology and merchant-town charm meet inside this atmospheric museum in a historic merchant’s house on Stege’s main street.

4.2

Housed in a stately old merchant’s house on Stege’s main street, Møns Museum, Empiregården offers a richly layered introduction to the island of Møn. Inside the creaking floors and panelled rooms you’ll find exhibitions on Stege’s trading past, local life through the centuries, the island’s geology and changing landscape, plus thoughtful special displays. With its intimate scale, historic courtyard and in-house local archive, it’s an ideal first stop for understanding this corner of South Zealand.

A brief summary to Møns Museum, Empiregården

  • Storegade 75, Stege, 4780, DK
  • +4570701236
  • Visit website
  • Duration: 1 to 2 hours
  • Budget
  • Environment icon Indoor
  • Mobile reception: 5 out of 5
  • Tuesday 10 am-4 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-4 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-4 pm
  • Friday 10 am-4 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-4 pm

Local tips

  • Allow at least 1–1.5 hours to explore; the museum is compact but the themed rooms and objects reward unhurried reading and closer inspection.
  • Pair your visit with a stroll through Stege’s old streets and by the town gate tower to connect the exhibits with the surrounding architecture.
  • Check current opening hours and any temporary exhibitions in advance, as seasonal schedules and special displays can vary during the year.
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Getting There

  • Bus from Vordingborg

    From Vordingborg, regional buses run to Stege several times a day, with typical journey times of 35–50 minutes depending on route and stops. A single adult ticket generally costs around 40–60 DKK, and you can pay with contactless cards or local travel cards. Services are less frequent in the evening and on weekends, so check the timetable in advance if you plan to return late.

  • Car from Vordingborg and South Zealand

    Driving from Vordingborg or elsewhere in South Zealand to Stege usually takes 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic and starting point. The route crosses causeways and bridges onto Møn and follows main regional roads suited to standard vehicles. Parking options are available in central Stege within a short walk of the museum, though spaces can be busier in summer and on market days.

  • Cycling on Møn

    If you are already on Møn, cycling to Stege is a pleasant option in mild weather. Distances from nearby villages range from roughly 20 to 60 minutes of riding on mostly flat country roads, with some sections on shared routes used by cars. Surfaces are generally paved but can feel exposed in windy conditions, so dress for the weather and use lights outside daylight hours.

Møns Museum, Empiregården location weather suitability

  • Weather icon Any Weather
  • Weather icon Rain / Wet Weather
  • Weather icon Cold Weather
  • Weather icon Mild Temperatures

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Discover more about Møns Museum, Empiregården

A merchant’s house with many island stories

Empiregården, the elegant building that houses Møns Museum, began life as a prosperous merchant’s residence in the heart of Stege, just a short stroll from the town’s medieval gate tower. Step through the doorway and you exchange the bustle of Storegade for creaking timber floors, deep window sills and low ceilings that hint at centuries of trade, domestic life and quiet wealth. The museum has made deft use of this setting, allowing the rooms themselves to act as artefacts. Painted doors, worn stair treads and glimpses of the enclosed courtyard remind you that this was once a working home and business, closely tied to the fortunes of the harbour and the fertile fields beyond.

From medieval market town to sugar and shipping

One strand of the exhibition traces Stege’s transformation from fortified medieval market town to modern local centre. Displays explore the town’s fishing and trading heritage, the importance of the harbour and the later rise of industry, including the nearby sugar factory that reshaped local employment and the waterfront skyline. Historic maps, tools, household objects and shop fittings show how life on Møn has always been shaped by its position between sea and farmland. Panels and objects touch on everything from guild life and craftsmanship to the impact of storms, crop failures and economic booms on everyday families.

Island landscapes, geology and the wider Møn story

Another focus is the island’s remarkable natural setting. While the famous white cliffs lie some distance away, the museum’s geological collection helps explain how Møn’s chalk landscape formed, why fossils appear in the cliffs and how the last Ice Age carved out the coastline and inland hills. This environmental perspective is woven into the broader story of settlement on Møn: how villages clustered where soil and water allowed, how forests were cleared, and how the sea could be both barrier and highway. It is an ideal primer before exploring the island’s beaches, woodland trails and cliff-top viewpoints.

Everyday life, traditions and changing times

Several rooms delve into local domestic and social history. Recreated interiors, clothing, tools and photographs show how islanders lived, worked and celebrated across the 19th and 20th centuries. Themes such as schooling, religious life, crafts and agriculture are presented through objects with clear local provenance. Shifts in technology and transport are also visible: from sail-powered freight and horse-drawn wagons to motorboats and buses linking Stege more closely with the rest of Zealand. Together, these exhibits give a grounded sense of how a relatively small community adapted to wider Danish and European changes.

Special exhibitions and the local archive courtyard

Beyond the permanent rooms, Empiregården often uses additional space behind the main building for special exhibitions. These may highlight particular episodes in local history, notable residents or wider events seen through the lens of Møn, offering depth for repeat visitors and history enthusiasts. Tucked within the complex is the local archive, an invaluable resource for those tracing family connections or researching the island in more detail. Even if you do not consult the archive, the adjacent courtyard offers a sheltered place to pause, surrounded by old walls and rooflines that echo the themes inside.

Visiting atmosphere in the heart of Stege

A visit typically fits comfortably into a half-day in Stege, pairing well with a walk through the town’s cobbled streets and along the harbour. The scale of the museum makes it approachable for families and casual visitors, while still rewarding those who linger over details. Inside, the mood is unhurried and quietly reflective. Simple seating, informative labels and the domestic proportions of the rooms encourage you to move at your own pace, letting the island’s stories settle before you head back out into the light of Storegade.

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