Hammershus, Medieval fortress ruins on the northern coast of Bornholm, Denmark
Hammershus is a medieval fortress ruin on Bornholm's northern coast that rises roughly 74 meters above the Baltic Sea with thick stone walls. The site consists of multiple walls and towers spread across the hilltop, forming the remains of a substantial medieval stronghold.
The Archbishop of Lund ordered its construction around 1200 to establish ecclesiastical control over the island. It later became central to conflicts between Nordic powers competing for dominance in the Baltic region.
The fortress shaped how islanders understood their identity through centuries of shifting power and foreign rule. Walking through the ruins today, you sense the weight of competing interests that defined Bornholm's story.
Access is free and available year-round, with paths leading up to the ruins from nearby parking areas. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and rocky, with some steep drops in places.
After the fortress was abandoned, local islanders gradually dismantled and repurposed its stones for other buildings over many decades until authorities finally protected the site. The ruin came close to disappearing entirely through this informal salvaging.
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