Stevns Municipality Stevns Kommune (Danish) | |
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 Coat of arms | |
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| Coordinates:55°20′00″N12°19′00″E / 55.333333333333°N 12.316666666667°E /55.333333333333; 12.316666666667 | |
| Country | Denmark |
| Region | Zealand |
| Established | 1 January 2007 |
| Seat | Store Heddinge |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Annette Mortensen (V) |
| Area | |
• Total | 249.92 km2 (96.49 sq mi) |
| Population (1. January 2024)[1] | |
• Total | 23,649 |
| • Density | 95/km2 (250/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Municipal code | 336 |
| Website | stevns |
Stevns Municipality (Danish:Stevns Kommune) is akommune in theRegion Sjælland on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand in southDenmark. The municipality covers an area of 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi), and has a population of 23,649 (1 January 2024). The municipality covers most ofStevns Peninsula.
The third largest town and the site of its municipal council is the town ofHårlev.
On 1 January 2007 Stevns municipality, as the result ofKommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007), merged withVallø municipality to form an enlarged Stevns municipality.
The ten largest locations in the municipality are:
| Strøby Egede | 3,900 |
| Store Heddinge | 3,200 |
| Hårlev | 2,500 |
| Rødvig | 1,600 |
| Valløby | 760 |
| Strøby | 670 |
| Hellested | 610 |
| Klippinge | 520 |
| Magleby | 320 |
| Lyderslev | 320 |
The town ofStore Heddinge came into existence during the 13th century, and Saint Katharina Church (Sct. Katharina kirke) is also from that time. The town received privileged status as a merchant town in 1441. A Latin preparatory school was founded in the town in 1620, but was closed down in 1739.
Stevns' municipal council consists of 19 members, elected every four years.
Below are the municipal councils elected since theMunicipal Reform of 2007.
| Election | Party | Total seats | Turnout | Elected mayor | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | B | C | F | L | N | O | V | Ø | |||||
| 2005 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | 27 | 74.6% | Poul Arne Nielsen (V) | |||||
| 2009 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 19 | 71.0% | |||||
| 2013 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 75.2% | Mogens H. Nielsen (V) | ||||
| 2017 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 72.7% | Anette Mortensen (V) | ||||
| Data fromKmdvalg.dk 2005,2009,2013 and2017 | |||||||||||||
The area is known for its whitechalk cliffs, which are quite rare in Denmark.Stevns Klint (Stevns' Cliffs), a popular tourist attraction, is one of these. The old town church by the small village of Højerup collapsed partially over the cliffs in 1928 due toerosion.
The cliffs at Højerup are also the place where the father-and-son team of scientistsLuis andWalter Alvarez measured[2] the highest level ofiridium in theCretaceous–Paleogene boundary layer, which led them to propose theirhypothesis that theCretaceous–Paleogene extinction event was caused by animpact of a largeasteroid 66 million years ago.
By 2014Stevns Klint was listed onUNESCOList of World Heritage Sites in Northern Europe.
In 2008 the Cold War Museum Stevns Fortress opened to the public. It features a large exhibition of military equipment and a 1.5-hour guided tour in the large underground system of the fortress. The underground system of the fortress features 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) of tunnels, living quarters, command centers, hospital and even a chapel. And in addition two ammunition depots for its two 15 centimetres (5.9 in) cannons. The tunnels are 18–20 metres (59–66 ft) below surface excavated in the chalk of Stevns. This top secret fortress was built in 1953 and remained operational until 2000.
Stevns is also home to Elverhøj (Elves' Hill), while not much of an attraction, it is famous for the fairy tale The Elf Mound byH.C. Andersen and the Danish national playElves' Hill, both of which in Danish share the nameElverhøj.
| Authority control databases: National |
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