Svanemøllen

Svanemøllen is an octagonal wooden smock mill in Svaneke with exterior walls covered in oak shingles. The structure is topped by a curved cap that crowns this practical grain-milling building.

Ten citizens from Svaneke and Ibsker formed a society in 1855 to construct this mill, which opened in 1857 with five grinding stones. Operations continued until the 1950s, when the structure received protected status in 1960.

The mill embodies the farming traditions of Bornholm Island, where wooden structures like this once dotted the landscape. It served as a vital hub for the local community, showing how grain milling shaped daily life and livelihoods.

The mill stands prominently above Svaneke and is easy to spot from nearby streets. The surrounding area is accessible for walking and viewing the structure from different angles.

During World War I, the mill was repurposed to generate electricity for Svaneke through an engine housed in a small shed on its northwest side. This transformation shows how the building adapted when grain milling became less profitable.