Stevns Municipality

Stevns is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Region Sjælland on the southeast coast of the island of Zealand (Sjælland) in south Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi), and has a population of 22,782 (1 January 2019). The municipality covers most of Stevns Peninsula.

Stevns Municipality

Stevns Kommune
Municipality
Coat of arms
CountryDenmark
RegionRegion Zealand
SeatStore Heddinge
Government
 • MayorAnnette Mortensen (V)
Area
 • Total249.92 km2 (96.49 sq mi)
Population
 (1 January 2019)
 • Total22,782
 • Density91/km2 (240/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Municipal code336
Websitewww.stevns.dk
Holtug Church

The third largest town and the site of its municipal council is the town of Hårlev.

On 1 January 2007 Stevns municipality, as the result of Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007), merged with Vallø municipality to form an enlarged Stevns municipality.

The town of Store Heddinge
Main article: Store Heddinge

The town of Store 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.

Locations

The ten largest locations in the municipality are:

Strøby Egede3,900
Store Heddinge3,200
Hårlev2,500
Rødvig1,600
Valløby760
Strøby670
Hellested610
Klippinge520
Magleby320
Lyderslev320

Politics

Municipal council

Stevns' municipal council consists of 19 members, elected every four years.

Below are the municipal councils elected since the Municipal 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 from Kmdvalg.dk 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017

Attractions
Stevns Klint

The area is known for its white chalk 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 to erosion.

The cliffs at Højerup are also the place where the father-and-son team of scientists Luis and Walter Alvarez measured[1] the highest level of iridium in the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary layer, which led them to propose their hypothesis that the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event was caused by an impact of a large asteroid 66 million years ago.


By 2014 Stevns Klint was listed on UNESCO List 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 by H.C. Andersen and the Danish national play Elves' Hill, both of which in Danish share the name Elverhøj.

Notable people of the wider Municipality
Jens Juel-Vind

References
  1. Alvarez, Luis W.; Alvarez, Walter; Asaro, Frank; Michel, Helen V. (June 6, 1980). "Extraterrestrial cause for the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction". Science. 208 (4448): 1095–1108. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.126.8496. doi:10.1126/science.208.4448.1095. PMID 17783054.

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