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    Hammershus Ruin

    Denmark

    Hammershus Ruin

    Point of InterestCultureNatureFor FamiliesBeachMountains

    Hammershus Castle Ruin sits on a cliff at Bornholm's northwest tip and is considered Northern Europe's largest. Hiking paths lead all around the Hammeren peninsula.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Denmark
    7. Bornholm
    9. Hammershus Ruin
    Hammershus Castle Ruin sits on a cliff at Bornholm's northwest tip and is considered Northern Europe's largest. Hiking paths lead all around the Hammeren peninsula.

    Places of Interest

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Opalsøen

    1Opalsøen

    The lake fills a disused granite quarry on the Hammeren Peninsula and is surrounded by steep rock faces. A hiking trail leads around the shore; there are no railings at the edges, so be careful when looking down.
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    Hammershus
    Attraction

    2Hammershus

    The ruin on a rocky ridge, about 70 meters above the sea, is considered Northern Europe's largest castle ruin. The castle was established in the 13th century, abandoned in the 18th century, and used as a quarry. Preserved are walls, the residential tower Manteltårnet, and the gatehouses; the site is freely accessible 24/7.
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    Attraction

    3Brohuset

    Opened 2018, the visitor center, built into the hillside opposite the ruin, offers one of the best views of Hammershus from its terrace. Inside: a small castle exhibition, a café, and a museum shop.
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    Attraction

    4Lion's Heads

    Two granite rocks on the coast below the castle, whose outlines resemble lion heads. They are located on the coastal path between Hammershus and Hammerhavn harbour and are easily visible from the water on boat tours.
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    Hammer Fyr
    Museum

    5Hammer Fyr

    The old lighthouse stands in the forest on Ørnebjerget, at 82 metres the highest point of the Hammeren peninsula. It was decommissioned in 1990; since 2011, it shines again at night. From the tower, you gaze across the Baltic Sea; access is on foot from the car park, and admission is free.
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    Food & Drink

    1

    Restaurant Lunch (Vang)

    A lunchtime restaurant by the small harbor in Vang, south of Hammershus, previously known as Le Port. The menu features classic Danish lunch dishes, such as freshly peeled prawns, along with coffee and cake offering sea views. Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
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    2

    Restaurant Margeritten

    Restaurant on Allinge's Church Square, with steaks, fish, burgers, pasta, and a salad bar. Where possible, Bornholm products are used. Open evenings.
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    Dining & Drinks

    Café in the Visitor Center

    Brohuset offers coffee, small dishes, and ice cream with a view of the ruin, open during the day.

    Allinge and Sandvig

    Nearby, you'll find smokehouses with herring buffets, harbor restaurants and cafés, 3 km from the castle.

    The History

    Power Centre in the Baltic SeaThe castle, built in the 13th century (presumably by the Archbishop of Lund), was for centuries contested by the Church, the Danish Crown, and the Hanseatic League, which briefly governed Bornholm. In 1658, the island briefly became Swedish; after a local uprising, it reverted to Denmark.In the 18th century, the castle was abandoned, its stones repurposed for other buildings on the island. Only in the 19th century was the ruin protected and later partially secured.

    Exploring locally

    Hammershus is about three kilometers southwest of Allinge. If driving, park at the visitor center; the large car park is paid from Easter until the autumn holidays. Buses from Rønne and Allinge stop nearby.The most beautiful approach is on foot, via coastal paths from Sandvig or Vang. On Hammeren peninsula, paths are sometimes steep and stony; sturdy shoes are recommended.

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    Nearby

    Gudhjem

    Gudhjem

    The fishing village on Bornholm's northeast coast stretches in steep alleys from the granite harbour up the hill. Smokehouses, artisan crafts, and the boats to Christiansø define the village.
    Bornholm

    Bornholm

    The Baltic Sea island of Bornholm is closer to Sweden than to the rest of Denmark. Granite coasts in the north, fine sandy beaches in the south, round churches, smokehouses, and fishing villages make it a unique travel destination.
    Ales Stenar

    Ales Stenar

    Ales Stenar is Sweden's largest preserved stone ship setting: 59 boulders form the outline of a 67-meter-long ship on the cliff above the fishing village of Kåseberga. The site is located on the south coast of Skåne, about 20 kilometers east of Ystad, offering expansive views over the Baltic Sea. From Kåseberga harbor, a short, steep footpath leads up.
    Ystad

    Ystad

    Ystad is a small port town on the south coast of Skåne with a well-preserved historic town centre. Around 300 half-timbered houses, St. Mary's Church, and the Franciscan Monastery, founded in 1267, define the old town. Ystad is also known as the setting for Henning Mankell's Wallander crime novels and as a ferry port to Bornholm.
    Jasmund National Park & Königsstuhl

    Jasmund National Park & Königsstuhl

    Jasmund National Park in northeastern Rügen, at 3,003 hectares, is Germany's smallest national park. It was established on September 12, 1990, and since June 2011, parts of its beech forest have been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. The chalk cliffs of the steep coast are approximately 70 million years old; Caspar David Friedrich painted them in 1818.Its most famous point is the 118-meter-high Königsstuhl, home to the National Park Centre, where a skywalk has extended over the edge since 2023. A panoramic trail runs for about eleven to twelve kilometers along the high cliff coast from Sassnitz to Lohme, or you can take a shuttle bus from the Hagen car park.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash. Each photo carries its credit.
    • Place data such as addresses and ratings comes from Google Maps.
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