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The abundance of stone on Bornholm lends itself to constructing solid buildings. One of the oldest stony edifices is Hammerhus, a fort built around 1250. It was active and important for centuries but since fell into disrepair. It is one of the largest fortress ruins in northern Europe and is now preserved. As I clamber uphill to enjoy the view over the land and the water I hear a choir practicing on the fortress grounds. The acoustics and atmosphere are perfect.
Stone has also been used to build Bornholm’s churches, some of which are round. This is a type of architecture not otherwise seen in Denmark. The most beautiful of them all, I think, is the blindingly and pristinely white Østerlars church from 1150. That’s old!
The windmills on Bornholm are old, too, and, I think, eminently more decorative than their modern, streamlined cousins. They no longer grind grain but house museums or cafes.
The rocky coast with its large rounded boulders reminds me of the Canadian Nova Scotia coastline. This, along with the large, wild woods makes me feel very at home on Bornholm.
