Private Cruise Excursions in Bornholm, Denmark

Bornholm is the island of contrasts: the sand in the south is so fine that Napoleon is reputed to have used it in his hourglass. whereas north is characterised by rugged rocky terrain and cliffs.

The Best of Bornholm (duration: 4 hours)

The tour departs from Ronne and heads north towards the fishing village of Hasle, passing through the beautiful wooded area interconnecting these two villages with each another.

From Bornholm’s coast, it is possible to discern the coast of Sweden, only 32 kilometres away at the closest point. The impressive ruins of the medieval fortress Hammershus come into view as the bus approaches the northern tip of Bornholm.

Today, Hammershus is the largest castle ruin in Northern Europe and Bornholm’s most popular attraction. The construction of the castle is assumed to have begun in the early 1200s, to consolidate the power of the archbishop of Lund over the island. In the ensuing 500 years, Hammershus was the seat of power for the island’s succession of rulers. In 1743, the king of Denmark finally abandoned Hammershus, and the people of Bornholm began to retrieve stones from the site, which gradually fell into ruin, until 1822 when it was listed on the national historic register.

The tour continues along the north-east coast of Bornholm through rolling countryside and charming hamlets. The village of Gudhjem is located right on a steep rocky outcrop. A walk through the village attests to the gentle restoration and preservation of its original exotic environment. The climate – and especially Bornholm’s many hours of sunshine – provide good growth conditions for mulberry, walnut and fig trees. Bornholm has four round churches, the largest being the Round Church of Osterlars. The church’s recently restored frescoes are visible on its centre column. A stairway in the church interior leads all the way to the top of the church, from where there is a splendid view of vast areas of Bornholm.

The final leg of the tour back to Ronne passes through the lovely wooded area of Almindingen Forest with rift valleys, small lakes and captivating scenery.

 Island Tour of Bornholm (duration: 6 hours)

The landscape, ambience, rocks and long sandy beaches can all be experienced in just 6 hours.

The tour departs from Ronne harbour and heads for Dueodde at the south tip of Bornholm. Here there is a brief stop where it is possible to explore the impressive dune landscape. Svaneke is one of the best-preserved towns in Denmark with charming old cottages and merchant houses. The town is also home to an abundance of craft artists and small workshops producing everything from liquorice and sweets to ice cream.

The village of Gudhjem lies directly on a steep rocky outcrop. The narrow streets and tall houses exude a unique ambience. Fig and mulberry trees are found in many of the rock gardens. The mild climate provides optimal growth conditions. Many artists came to the village in the last century, enticed by the light, rocks and landscape, and eventually prompting many leading Danish and Swedish painters to settle here. The tour heads inland through rolling countryside from where there is a splendid view across the island and the Baltic Sea. The Ertholmene archipelago is vaguely discernable on the horizon.

Ols Church is one of Bornholm’s four unique round churches. In addition to religious ceremonies, these churches were used as places of refuge in times of unrest and during raids by foreign invaders.  Hammershus is the largest castle ruin in Northern Europe. The construction of the castle was presumably started by the archbishop of Lund in the 1200s, when most of the island came the control of the archdiocese. In the following centuries, Hammershus was the seat of power for the island’s succession of rulers. This impressive edifice was also used as a stopping-off point en route to the medieval crusades through the now Baltic States, and Hammershus was also used to store the taxes in kind levied from the people of Bornholm. On the way to Rønne, the tour follows the beautiful west coast of Bornholm from where it is possible to see the coast of Sweden on a clear day.

The tour includes stops:

 ·                               Dueodde (brief stop).

·                               Svaneke (stop).

·                               Gudhjem (stop).

·                               Ols Church (stop).

·                               Hammershus Castle Ruin (stop).

·                               Ronne

Private cruise excursions

Scandinavia

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