Sønderborg (German: Sonderburg), is a municipality (Danish, kommune) in Region Syddanmark partially on the Jutland peninsula and partially on the island of Als in south Denmark, at the border with Germany. The municipality covers an area of 496,57 km² (192 sq. miles), and has a total population of 76,236 (2008). Its mayor is Jan Prokopek Jensen, a member of the Socialdemokraterne political party.
The site of its municipal council is the town of Sønderborg, which covers most of the area of the municipality. Sønderborg is located not very far from the Danish-German border. Just south of the border is the German town of Flensburg, which is popular amongst Danes going to Germany on a one-day trip, often to shop and to buy alcohol and chocolate, which is cheaper in Germany than in Denmark.
The municipality is split into two sections separated by Als Fjord, the waterway which separates the island of Als from the Jutland mainland.
Dybbøl Mølle, Historical location near Sønderborg. Sønderborg Slot, Historical castle in Sønderborg. (Travelers should not expect much spectacular experience from it since it is more like a old school arcitecture ) Danfoss Universe, Science and experience park in Nordborg. Alsion The culture, education, and science park in Sønderborg.
The town of Sønderborg lies on both sides of Als Fjord; the narrow strait between these two sides is called Als Strait (Alssund). Two road bridges connect the city across the strait: the 682-meter Als Strait Bridge (Alssundbro), built in 1978-1981; and the 331-meter King Christian X’s Bridge (Kong Christian Xs Bro), built in 1925-1930.
The town of Sønderborg (German name Sonderburg) is home to Sønderborg Castle (Sønderborg Slot) and Sandbjerg Estate (Sandbjerg Gods, Sundeved) near Sønderborg. Sønderborg castle is in the centre of the town, and houses a museum focusing on the history and culture of the area. The museum is open all year. Sandbjerg Estate, which had belonged for many years to the Dukes of Sønderborg, and then to the Reventlow family, was donated to Aarhus University in 1954. In addition Sønderborg has a castle-like barracks built by the german military in 1906, placed centrally by Als Fjord, opposite Alsion (see picture below). Today the barracks is the home the danish army NCO school.
The old part of Sønderborg is on the island of Als, but some of its western suburbs have spread onto the mainland of Jutland into what had been the interior of the fort of Dybbøl.
Beginning in 1864, Sønderborg had been part of Prussia, and as such, was part of the North German Confederation, and from 1871 onwards, part of the German Empire. In the 1920 Schleswig Plebiscite that brought Northern Schleswig to Denmark, 56.9% of Sønderborg’s inhabitants voted for remaining part of Germany, and 43.8% voted for the cession to Denmark.
On January 1, 2007, due to Kommunalreformen (”The Municipal Reform” of 2007), the former Sønderborg municipality was combined with Augustenborg, Broager, Gråsten, Nordborg, Sydals, and Sundeved municipalities to form a new Sønderborg municipality. The former Sønderborg municipality covered an area of 54 km², and had a total population of 30,555 (2005). Its last mayor was Arne Peder Hansen, a member of the Venstre (Liberal Party) political party.
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