Editing Falster

{{Short description|Island in south-eastern Denmark}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox islands
| name = Falster
| image_name       = Stubbekøbing - Hauptstraße 1.jpg
| image_caption    = Old houses in [[Stubbekøbing]], Falster
| image_size       =
| map_image        = Location map Falster.svg
| map_caption      =
| native_name      =
| native_name_link =
| nickname         =
| location         =[[Kattegat]], Belts and Sound (Source:International hydrographic organization)
| coordinates      = {{coord|54|48|N|11|58|E|region:DK_type:isle_scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}
| archipelago      =
| total_islands    =
| major_islands    =
| area_km2         = 486.2<ref name="size"/>
| highest_mount    =
| elevation_m      =
| country          = [[Denmark]]
| country_admin_divisions_title     = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]]
| country_admin_divisions           = [[Region Zealand]]
| country_admin_divisions_title_1   = [[List of municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]]
| country_admin_divisions_1         = [[Guldborgsund Municipality]]
| country_largest_city              = [[Nykøbing Falster]]
| country_largest_city_population   = 16,405
| population       = 43,398
| population_as_of = 2010
| density_km2      = 89.25
| ethnic_groups    =
| additional_info  =
}}
'''Falster''' ({{IPA|da|ˈfælˀstɐ|lang}}) is an island in south-eastern [[Denmark]] with an area of {{convert|486.2|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name="size">{{cite web |url=http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm |title=Islands By Land Area |publisher=Islands.unep.ch |access-date=2010-08-01 |archive-date=20 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220003634/http://islands.unep.ch/Tiarea.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> and 43,398 inhabitants as of 1 January 2010.<ref name="statistikbanken">[http://statistikbanken.dk/statbank5a/default.asp?w=1024 "Danmarks Statistik."] Retrieved 28 June 2010.</ref> Located in the [[Kattegat]], Belts and Sound area, it is part of [[Region Zealand]] and is administered by [[Guldborgsund Municipality]]. Falster includes Denmark's southernmost point, [[Gedser Odde]], near [[Gedser]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/201115/Falster Falster. From Encyclopædia Britannica.] Retrieved 21 January 2009.</ref>

The largest town is [[Nykøbing Falster]] with over 40% of the island's inhabitants. Other towns include [[Stubbekøbing]], [[Nørre Alslev]] and [[Gedser]].

Falster has motor and railway links both to the larger island of [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]] to the north and to the island of [[Lolland]] to the south-west. These links also lead to the smaller islands of [[Masnedø]] and [[Farø]]. [[European route E47]] links [[Copenhagen]] to [[Hamburg]] ([[Germany]]) via Falster.

==History==
[[File:Gedser Church - interior.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Interior of [[Gedser Church]], designed by [[Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint]] ]]
From medieval times until 1766, most of Falster belonged to the crown. [[Valdemar II of Denmark|King Valdemar]]'s Census Book from c. 1231 lists all the parishes and most of the villages. Falster's two main towns, [[Nykøbing Falster|Nykøbing]] and [[Stubbekøbing]], were both founded towards the end of the 12th century.<ref>[http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Falster/Falster Falster. From Den store Danske.] In Danish. Retrieved 21 January 2010.</ref>

In medieval times, the island was marked by wars with the [[Wends]] in 1158 and with [[Lübeck]] in 1253. The census of 1509 includes only 90 of the 110 villages mentioned earlier. By contrast, it mentions 29 new settlements mainly along the coast.

In the 16th century, Falster had a number of farms which were owned by the local nobility but, from 1560 to 1630, they were slowly returned to the crown which once again owned the entire island. Therefore, Falster could therefore be used as the dowry for [[Frederick III of Denmark|Frederick III]]'s wife, [[Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg|Sophie Amalie]] but as a result of the high taxes which resulted, many of the farms were deserted.

Falster was managed as a crown estate from 1718 until 1766 when it was sold by auction and divided up into ten large farms, five of which were given large new fields. But as the fields had to be prepared through the serfdom of local peasants, this led to many disputes.

The villages were replaced by the community from 1778 to 1814, and gradually moved to freehold tenants, a process which was only completed in about 1860.

Falster experienced significant economic expansion after 1880 when, with the establishment of cooperative dairies and slaughterhouses, farming was concentrated on livestock production and forage crops. There was also an increase in the cultivation of sugar beet which was processed in factories at Nykøbing and Stubbekøbing between 1890 and 1914. Many seasonal workers, especially women, from Sweden and Poland came to help with harvesting the sugar beet and some of them stayed.

With the new railway from [[Orehoved]] to Nykøbing in 1872 and railway ferries to [[Masnedø]]  (1884) and [[Warnemünde]] (1903), Falster slowly became a traffic hub. Its position was reinforced by the construction of the Storstrøm Bridge (1937) and Farø Bridges (1985).

Since 1975, Falster has been marked by high unemployment as a result of harder times for both farming and industry.

==Towns and villages==
{{As of|2012}}, populations were as follows:<ref>[http://www.statistikbanken.dk/statbank5a/SelectVarVal/Define.asp?Maintable=BEF44&PLanguage=1 "BEF44: Population 1st January, by urban areas"] database from [[Statistics Denmark]]</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right:1em"
|-
| [[Nykøbing Falster]] || align="center"| 16,394
|-
| [[Nørre Alslev]] || align="center"| 2,384
|-
| [[Stubbekøbing]] || align="center"| 2,304
|-
| [[Nordbyen]] || align="center"| 1,693
|-
| [[Væggerløse]] || align="center"| 1,347
|-
| [[Idestrup]] || align="center"| 1,234
|-
| [[Eskilstrup]] || align="center"| 1,091
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right:1em"
|-
| [[Gedser]] || align="center"| 793
|-
| [[Marielyst]] || align="center"| 676
|-
| [[Horbelev]] || align="center"| 595
|-
| [[Orehoved]] || align="center"| 476
|-
| [[Ønslev]] || align="center"| 404
|-
| [[Systofte Skovby]] || align="center"| 347
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right:1em"
|-
| [[Sønder Vedby Skovhuse]] || align="center"|317
|-
| [[Horreby]] || align="center"| 306
|-
| [[Nykøbing Strandhuse]] || align="center"| 277
|-
| [[Øster Kippinge]] || align="center"| 261
|-
| [[Hasselø Plantage]] || align="center"| 236
|-
| [[Tingsted]] || align="center"| 228
|}
{{clear left}}

==Tourism==
[[File:Jousting at Middelaldercentret2.jpg|thumb|[[Jousting]] at the [[Middelaldercentret|Middle Ages Centre]].]]
With its marinas, sandy beaches and cycle tracks, Falster attracts tourists who wish to have relaxing holidays in unspoilt surroundings. One of the most popular resorts is [[Marielyst]] on the east coast.<ref>[http://www.marielyst.eu/Marielyst.htm Marielyst.] In Danish. Retrieved 21 January 2010.</ref>

Nykøbing offers a number of attractions including its old-town atmosphere with narrow streets. Of particular interest are the [[Middelaldercentret|Middle Ages Centre]], which is an [[open-air museum]] build as a part of a medieval town around year 1400 and the biggest attraction of the town.<ref name="Planet2011">{{cite book|author=Lonely Planet|title=Denmark Travel Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KkhfIBd5rS4C&pg=PT240|access-date=2013-05-23|year=2011|publisher=Lonely Planet|isbn=978-1-74321-287-5|pages=239–240|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Anne-VikebeRejser">{{cite web |url=http://www.rejseavisen.dk/tv-klip-anne-vibeke-rejser-lolland-middelaldercentret-i-nykoebing-falster |title=Tv-klip: Anne-Vibeke Rejser - Lolland, Middelaldercentret i Nykøbing Falster |publisher=Rejseavisen |date=2014-05-02 |access-date=2014-05-10 }}</ref><ref name="sejlnet">[http://www.sejlnet.dk/havneguide/nyk%C3%B8bing-falster-havn Nykøbing Falster Havn]. Sejlnet.dk. Hentet 19/11-2014</ref> Among other attractions in Nykøbing are the Abbey Church (''Klosterkirke'') which was built in the 15th century,<ref>[http://www.nyk-f-sogn.dk/index.php?id=11337 Klosterkirkens historie.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222173931/http://www.nyk-f-sogn.dk/index.php?id=11337 |date=22 December 2015 }} In Danish. Retrieved 21 January 2010.</ref> a [[Falsters Minder|City Museum]] and a [[Guldborgsund Zoo|zoo]].

Scattered around the island are several minor museum such as [[Danmarks Traktormuseum|Danish Tractor Museum]] and [[Crocodile Zoo, Falster|Crocodile Zoo]] in [[Eskilstrup]], a [[Stubbekøbing Motorcykel- og Radiomuseum|motorbike and radio Museum]] in [[Stubbekøbing]] and a [[Det Sorte Geomuseum|geological museum]] in [[Gedser]], which holds the world's largest polished [[garnet]] by the name of "Nordstjernen" (the [[Polaris|Northern Star]]).<ref name="visitdenmark">[https://archive.today/20130629184510/http://www.visitdenmark.dk/da/tellus-product/615566 Det Sorte Geomuseum], visitdenmark.dk, hentet 29/6-2013</ref><ref name='lilletur'>[http://www.den-lille-turisme.dk/DLT-FK-museer/Index/det_sorte_geomuseum.htm Det Sorte Geomuseum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226053955/http://www.den-lille-turisme.dk/DLT-FK-museer/Index/det_sorte_geomuseum.htm |date=26 December 2014 }}. Den-lille-turisme.dk. Hentet 15/11-2013</ref><ref name="guldborgsund">[http://www.guldborgsund.dk/da/Erhverv/Fokusomraader_i_erhvervsudvikling/Gedser-nu/~/media/Filer/Erhverv/Gedser.nu/Det%20Sorte%20Musum.ashx Det Sorte Museum Gedser Kulturhus]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, guldborgsund.dk, hentet 29/6-2013</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:farobridge.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Farø south bridge to Falster]]
Falster has a motorway and trunk roads linking its towns and villages.

Falster is connected to the larger island of [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]] to the north by the [[Farø Bridges]] (Farøbroerne) on [[European route E47]] linking [[Copenhagen]] to [[Hamburg]] and the south. The Farø bridges join on the small island of [[Farø]], and from there a further bridge gives access to the eastern neighbouring island of [[Møn]]. Falster is also connected to Zealand via the [[Storstrøm Bridge|Storstrøm]] and [[Masnedsund Bridge|Masnedsund]] bridges, via the island of [[Masnedø]].

To the south-west, the E47 connects Falster to the island of [[Lolland]] via a tunnel under the [[Guldborgsund]] strait. There are two other bridges connecting to Lolland: the [[Guldborgsund Bridge]] at the northern end of the strait and the [[Frederick IX Bridge]] at Nykøbing Falster.

Nykøbing Falster's railway station is operated by [[Danish State Railways]]. There are regular passenger train services to [[Copenhagen]] via [[Ringsted]]. International trains operating between Copenhagen and [[Hamburg]] (via the [[train ferry]] between [[Rødby]] and [[Puttgarden]]) also call at the station. The company [[Lokaltog]] operates a rail service to [[Nakskov]]. The railway takes the Frederick IX bridge to Lolland and the Storstrøm and Masnedsund bridges to Zealand.

There are also frequent bus services linking Nykøbing with other towns and villages on the island as well as with destinations on Lolland, Møn and Zealand.<ref>[http://www.trsj.dk/Default.aspx?ID=58 Movia bus routes.] Retrieved 21 January 2010.</ref>

==Cultural references==
* [[Marie Grubbe]], whose tragic life  has been the subject of several works of art including most notably [[Jens Peter Jacobsen]]'s 1876 novel published in English as ''Marie Grubbe. A Lady of the Seventeenth Century'' in 1917, spent her last years in poverty on Falster.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mariegrubbeskolen.dk/default.asp?SideID=242 |title=Hvem var Marie Grubbe??? |publisher=Guldborgsund Municipality |access-date=2010-07-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222025326/http://www.mariegrubbeskolen.dk/default.asp?SideID=242 |archive-date=22 December 2009 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==Notable residents==
[[File:B.S. Ingemann (C. A. Jensen).jpg|thumb|120px|B.S. Ingemann, 1844]]
[[File:Connie Kruckow 08.jpg|thumb|120px|Connie Kruckow 2008]]
People who were born, or have lived on Falster include:
* [[Marie Grubbe]] (1643–1718), noble woman, lived Stubbekøbing
* [[Hans Egede]] (1686 - 1758 in Stubbekøbing), Lutheran missionary
* [[Charles August Selby]] (1755–1823) English-Danish merchant and landowner, built the [[Orupgaard]] manor house near [[Idestrup]]
* [[Bernhard Severin Ingemann]] (1789 in Torkilstrup – 1862), novelist and poet
* Otto [[Valdemar Koch]] (1852 in Sønder Kirkeby – 1902) architect and local politician
* [[Sophus Torup]] (1861 in Nykøbing, Falster – 1937) [[physiologist]] who settled in Norway
* [[Evald Nielsen]] (1879 in Stubbekøbing – 1958) [[silversmith]]
* [[Rasmus Sigvardt]] (1886 in [[Orehoved]] - ??) a mechanic, he opened a cycle repair shop which later developed into an engine factory
* [[Peter Freuchen]] (1886 in Nykøbing Falster - 1957), Arctic explorer, author, and anthropologist
* [[Peter Laurits Jensen]] (1886-1961) engineer, inventor, entrepreneur and invented the first loudspeaker
* [[Jørgen Hare]] (1923 in Eskilstrup – 2007) sports shooter, competed at the [[1952 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Connie Kruckow]] (born 1953) nurse who headed [[The Danish Nurses' Organization]]
* [[Frederik Magle]] (born 1977 in Stubbekøbing), composer, organist and pianist
* [[Mads Rasmussen]] (born 1981 in Idestrup), rower

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Nykøbing Falster - Middelaldercentret.jpg|The Middle Ages Centre near Nykøbing
File:Nykøbing Falster Klosterkirke1.jpg|The [[Abbey Church, Nykøbing Falster|Abbey Church]] in Nykøbing
File:Marielyst.jpg|The beach at [[Marielyst]]
File:Corselitze - herregård.JPG|[[Corselitze|Corselitze Manor]] in central Falster
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{Commons category|Falster}}
* [[List of islands of Denmark]]
* [[Lolland]]
* [[Langeland]]
* [[Zealand (Denmark)|Zealand]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Falster}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060822020441/http://www.lollandfalster-links.dk/main/main_map.htm Map of Lolland and Falster]

{{Falster Denmark}}
{{Denmark islands}}
{{Islands in the Baltic Sea}}
<!-- {{Coord|54|48|N|11|58|E|region:DK_type:isle|display=title}} -->

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Falster| ]]
[[Category:Islands of Denmark]]
[[Category:Geography of Guldborgsund Municipality]]
[[Category:Danish islands in the Baltic]]