Bornholm

Bornholm

General information about the region

Bornholm in a Danish island with a population of just under 40,000 people. It lies Northwest of Germany, North-east of Poland, South of Sweden, and to the East of Denmark. In the past, it was temporarily occupied by the Germans and then the Russians, and today is becoming more and more popular as a destination for holiday makers. Most Danish people will visit the island once in their life, as the island is a very popular destination for school trips.

What is the island known for?

Bornholm might be small and an island, but it has a lot to offer and doesn't have to hide from the other regions of Denmark. The island is known for having the largest medieval fortification in North Europe, and the tallest lighthouse in Denmark. A lot of ancient remains and some well preserved medieval buildings turn this island into a very interesting place for visitors. Bornholm is also famous for the landscape that is quite different from the rest of Denmark. Bornholm is also said to be the sunniest place in Denmark (don't think that it never rains there though), and can boast the most hours of sunlight in Denmark. During some days, it only gets dark for a few hours.

What should you not miss when you visit this island?

Bornholm Middelaldercenter (Bornholm's Medieval centre)

For people with an interest in medieval history, the Medieval Centre of Bornholm is a great and educational destination. The complex spread over several hectares and include a wood and pastures. Walking through the open air museum is like a trip in a time machine. You can see a farmer's fortified farm on the top of a hill, an archery range (you could even try it yourself), and a working watermill that turns local grain into flour. It is a fantastic place to spend a day, be entertained and learn a lot about what life used to be like during the Middle Ages in Denmark.

Hammerhus Castle

Hammerhus Castle is nothing but a ruin these days, but even the ruins are enough to convince you that this once was a very impressive place. Hammershus Castle sits on Northern tip of Bornholm and looks over the ocean. In the past, it would have been easy to see enemies approaching and ring the alarm. The stone fortress was originally built during the 13th century and has been on the island ever since. Hammershus is not only in a great location, it is also quite famous because it is the largest medieval fortification in Northern Europe.

The four ancient churches of Bornholm

There are four round churches from the 12th century on Bornholm, and they are one of the sights that no tourist misses. It is easy to visit all four of them, but if you don't have much time, you might just want to focus on one or two of them. In addition to the four round churches, there are also several other churches from medieval times.

Aarsdale Windmill

The Dutch windmill was built in the late 19th century, and is still fully functional. It is not used that often any more though. Visitors are usually allowed into the mill on all days, and you can see the machinery inside the windmill.

Risbebjerg

A very fascinating point of interest is the archaeological site at Risbebjerg. Some of the remains that have been found here date back around five thousand years, and show that the island had been occupied for a long time. There are some earthworks from the Iron Age, and the remains of a Neolithic sun temple.

Dueodde

The lighthouse at Dueodde is the tallest lighthouse in Denmark, and quite an interesting looking one, too. It was built from 1960 to 1962, the year in which was commissioned. Even today, the Dueodde Lighthouse is one of the most important lighthouses in the Baltic Sea, and definitely worth a visit while you are on the island.

Erichsens Gård

If you would like to experience what it was like to live in a house on the island during the end of the 19th century, then you need to head to the old part of Rønne. In this part, you can visit a house called Erichsens Gård. The interior of the house is like it used to be during the end of the 19th century, and it will give you a good idea what life was like for a normal middle class family of the time. If you look through one of the windows that face the garden, then you will also see some period clothing hang on the washing lines.