Archaeological sites in Bornholm

Bornholm's landscape preserves thousands of years of human history, from Neolithic megaliths to medieval fortifications. The island features Northern Europe's largest castle ruin, Hammershus, and the extensive Bronze Age petroglyphs at Madsebakke. Inland, the forests of Almindingen house the Viking-era Gamleborg and the medieval Lilleborg. Coastal sites like Rispebjerg reveal complex Iron Age earthworks, while numerous standing stones and passage graves, such as Hellig-Kvinde and Jættedal, provide insight into prehistoric burial traditions and sacred landscapes.

Archaeological Sites — Map

Alma / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Hammershus

Hammershus is a medieval era fortification at Hammeren on the northern tip of the Danish island of Bornholm.

Sygic Travel User / CC-BY-SA

B

Salomons kapel

Ruins of a 14th-century chapel located on the northern coast near Hammeren. It originally served the seasonal herring fishing community during the Middle Ages.

Pge / Public domain

C

Lilleborg, Bornholm

Lilleborg is a ruined castle in the Almindingen forest in the centre of the Danish island of Bornholm.

Hans-Peter Balfanz / CC BY 3.0

D

Hellig-Kvinde

An Iron Age standing stone group featuring a large vertical monolith known as the 'Holy Woman' surrounded by smaller stones arranged in a ship-like formation.

Steen Jeberg / CC BY-SA 2.5

E

Skt. Anna kapel

The granite ruins of a 13th-century chapel situated within the Gudhjem cemetery. Only the lower sections of the walls and the foundation remain.

Torbenbrinker / CC BY-SA 4.0

F

Gamleborg

Gamleborg, also known as Gamleborg Viking Fortress, was the first fortification on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Ole Palnatoke Andersen / CC BY-SA 3.0

G

Rispebjerg

Rispebjerg is an archaeological site on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Alphalphi / Public domain

H

Madsebakke

Denmark's largest collection of Bronze Age petroglyphs. The granite rock faces feature carvings of ships, sun wheels, and footprints dating back approximately 3,000 years.

I

Jættedal Jættestue

A Neolithic passage grave consisting of a stone-lined burial chamber. It is a well-preserved example of the megalithic tombs built by the Funnelbeaker culture.

J

Hestestene

A group of four prehistoric standing stones, or bautasten, situated on a coastal slope with views over the Baltic Sea.

K

Hyldebrandsdyssen

A Neolithic dolmen representing some of the earliest stone burial structures on the island, characterized by its large capstone and supporting uprights.

L

Arnager Skyttegard Stenkiste

A Bronze Age stone cist used for burials, consisting of a rectangular chamber constructed from flat stone slabs.

Other Lists

Bornholm Essentials Historic Churches of Bornholm Coastal Cliffs and Viewpoints Historic Mills and Lighthouses