Bornholm

Hammershus Castle Ruins Photo by Rudy Hemmingsen Click on the image for larger version

Perhaps the island’s most famous historic structure is the medieval castle of Hammershus, northern Europe’s largest castle ruin.

The beautiful market town of Svaneke, known for its wooden houses, was awarded the European Gold Medal for Historic Preservation in 1975. The old city center of Rønne, with its cobbled streets and historic theater, is one of the best-preserved places in all of Denmark. And in Gudhjem the ancient alleys and streets are so steep that cyclists must walk their bikes up and down the hills.

Among the more interesting structures on the island are four round churches that date from the 1100s. They’re all open to visitors; you might even be lucky enough to attend one of the renowned church concerts that take place throughout the year.

Painters became Bornholm’s earliest tourists, lured by the island’s stunning sunlight some 150 years ago. Today Bornholm is known as an artists’ colony, where visitors can see painters, sculptors and craftspeople at work in their studios or at their easels in the countryside.

Start your artistic tour at the mills and historic water tower in the charming east coast town of Svaneke. Sip a local brew at a café on the square, sample traditional smoked herring and smoked salmon at the Svaneke Smokehouse, then stroll to the seaside.

Baltic Sea Glass Photo by Cees van Roeden Click on the image for larger version

Head north along the coast, stopping to watch the glassblowers at Baltic Sea Glass. Then continue to the picturesque town of Gudhjem where you can board a boat to take you to the Art Museum of Bornholm. The museum features the work of Danish and Swedish painters from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.

On most summer weekends you’re likely to find busy antique and craft markets in the bigger towns. Check the local calendars to find out which artists have opened their studios to visitors, or simply soak up artistic inspiration in the villages and countryside.