Hammershus

Perched on a 74-metre granite cliff above the Baltic Sea, Hammershus is Bornholm's most-visited attraction and Northern Europe's largest castle ruin. The massive walls at the island's north-western tip are open year-round, admission is free, and on a clear day the view stretches far out over the sea.

A fortress with a long history

The founding of Hammershus was long disputed. The commonly cited date was around 1255, when the castle was said to have been built by the Archbishop of Lund, at a time when Bornholm was under the control of the Danish church. Excavations carried out in 2014 and 2015 have revised that picture: it's now thought that construction only began in the 1290s, most likely under Jens Grand, Archbishop of Lund from 1289 to 1302.

Its strategic position high on the cliff made the fortress nearly impregnable. Over the centuries, ownership changed hands several times - between archbishops, Danish kings and Lübeck merchants. Hammershus gradually lost its military significance and eventually became a quarry for the surrounding villages. In 1822 the ruin was placed under protection, and it has been maintained and preserved ever since.

What awaits you on the cliff

Hammershus is regarded as Northern Europe's largest castle ruin. Even in its ruined state, the remains hint at its former scale: the keep (Manteltårn), thick ring walls and the remnants of the great hall stretch across the ridge. From the highest point, the view reaches far out over the Baltic Sea on a clear day.

The terrain is hilly, steep and uneven, so sturdy footwear is effectively essential. Climbing or walking on the ruin's walls themselves is not permitted, both for your own safety and to preserve the structure. Take your time and you'll spot wall fragments, staircases and passageways everywhere.

The Brohuset visitor centre

At the foot of the site stands the modern Brohuset visitor centre, run under the supervision of the Danish nature agency Naturstyrelsen; the café is privately operated. Entry to the centre and its exhibition on the castle's history is free. A path leads up from here to the ruin. Allow around one to two hours for the exhibition and the ruin together.

In high season, roughly from Palm Sunday to mid-October, Brohuset opens daily from 9 to 16:00, and on weekends only over winter. The ruin itself is unaffected by these hours and remains accessible around the clock.

Getting there and practical tips

• By car, Hammershus is reached via Slotslyngvej 9, 3770 Allinge. The large car park has around 300 spaces. The parking fee is 35 DKK for 6 hours, charged from the Saturday before Palm Sunday until the autumn half-term break; outside that period, parking is free.
• The disabled and coach car park, P2, is free year-round.
• Without a car, BAT bus lines 2 and 10 run to Hammershus from Rønne: line 2 via Klemensker, Rø and Tejn, line 10 via Hasle.
• The nearest town is Allinge, in the north of the island.

For current opening hours and parking details, check the official website. General tips on getting to and around the island are gathered in our Getting there guide, with further practical pointers in Travel information.

Is it worth visiting?

For many visitors, Hammershus is the highlight of a trip to Bornholm, and with around 400,000 visitors a year, it's the island's biggest attraction - which is also the catch: it can get busy in high season. If you'd rather avoid the crowds, come early in the morning or outside peak season; the ruin is at its most atmospheric at sunset, when the old walls are bathed in warm light.

Since admission is free and there's no combined ticket to worry about, it's easy to pair a visit with nearby sights: Opalsøen, a swimmable lake in a former granite quarry, and the rocky coastline around Hammeren. Right nearby stand the Hammeren lighthouses, whose viewing platform reaches as far as Sweden and the Christiansø islands on a clear day.