Historic churches in Bornholm

Historic Churches of Bornholm

Bornholm's medieval landscape is defined by its four unique round churches—Østerlars, Nylars, Sankt Ols, and Ny Kirke—originally built in the 12th century to serve as both places of worship and defensive fortresses. These iconic white-washed structures are complemented by historic Romanesque parish buildings like Aa Church in Aakirkeby and St. Bodil's. Known for their thick granite walls and distinct architectural silhouettes, these 14 sites offer a window into the island’s religious history and strategic importance in the Baltic Sea during the Middle Ages.

Historic Churches of Bornholm — Map

Hubertus / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Østerlars Church

Østerlars Church is a historic building located just north of the village of Østerlars, 5 kilometres south of Gudhjem on the island of…

Pge / Public domain

B

Nylars Church

Nylars Church is a 12th-century round church in the village of Nylars near Rønne in the south of the Danish island of Bornholm.

Uli Elch / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Sankt Ols Kirke

Sankt Ols Kirke, also known as Olsker Church, is a 12th-century round church located in the village of Olsker, 4 km south of Allinge on the…

Steen Jeberg / CC BY-SA 2.5

D

Ny Kirke

Ny Kirke is a 12th-century round church located in the village of Nyker some 7 km from Rønne on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Per Trangbæk / Public domain

E

Aa Church

Aa Church, located in Aakirkeby on the Danish island of Bornholm, is a Romanesque church dating from the 12th century.

Steen Jeberg / CC BY-SA 2.5

F

St. Nicolas' Church, Rønne

St. Nicolas' Church with its distinctive tower is the parish church of Rønne on the island of Bornholm in the Diocese of Copenhagen.

Photographed Steen Jeberg / CC BY-SA 2.5

G

Svaneke Church

Svaneke Church is located in the small town of Svaneke on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Steen Jeberg / CC BY-SA 2.5

H

Hasle Church, Bornholm

Hasle Church is the parish church of Hasle, a port on the western coast of the Danish island of Bornholm.

Ole Palnatoke Andersen / CC BY-SA 3.0

I

St. Bodil's Church

St. Bodil's Church is a parish church dating from the 13th century located in Denmark, 4 km west of Nexø on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Lilly M / CC BY-SA 3.0

J

St. Peter's Church, Bornholm

St. Peter's Church is a Romanesque parish church some 6 km east of Aakirkeby on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Fyrtaarn / CC BY-SA 4.0

K

Ruth's Church

Ruth's Church is a parish church located in the village of Rutsker near Hasle on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Hubertus / CC BY-SA 3.0

L

St. Paul's Church, Bornholm

St. Paul's Church is a Romanesque church near Nexø on the Danish island of Bornholm.

aconcagua / CC BY-SA 3.0

M

Gudhjem Church

Gudhjem Church is the parish church of Gudhjem on the north coast of the Danish island of Bornholm.

Steen Jeberg / CC BY-SA 2.5

N

St. Clement's Church, Bornholm

St. Clement's Church is a parish church located in the village of Klemensker on the Danish island of Bornholm.

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