Hjorths Fabrik

On Krystalgade in Rønne, the air smells of clay and kiln smoke: Hjorths Fabrik isn't a reconstructed museum village but a genuine ceramics factory dating from 1859, still in use today. Lauritz Adolph Hjorth founded it as a terracotta works, and four generations of the family carried it on - the last being sisters Ulla and Marie Hjorth, until production ended in 1993. Since 1995, Bornholms Museum has run the building as a living ceramics museum.

Museum and workshop in one

The idea is simple and effective: in the museum section, the original factory rooms with their historic kilns walk you through 130 years of ceramics history, alongside a collection of Bornholm pottery going back to the 18th century and art ceramics from four generations of the Hjorth family. Next door, potters work at the wheel and the kilns - visitors watch over their shoulders, with demonstrations every day in high season. Anyone who wants to get hands-on can book a pottery workshop, including for children.

Bornholm's ceramics heritage

Hjorths Fabrik is the most tangible place to understand why Bornholm is recognised as a World Craft Region: the island has an unbroken ceramics tradition, and whatever's thrown and fired here goes straight into the workshop shop - from classic brown stoneware to current ranges. The shop is free to enter. For an overview of potteries, glassblowing studios and workshops across the island, see our arts and crafts guide, and for the glass scene, glass art.

Getting there and practical tips

• Krystalgade 5 sits in the middle of Rønne's old town - about a 10-minute walk from the ferry terminal, with parking in the town-centre car parks.
• The workshop closes at 16:00, an hour before the shop and exhibition. Come before then if you want to see the potters at work.
• It's closed on Sundays year-round - unlike many Bornholm attractions.

Is it worth visiting?

For anyone interested in craft, Hjorths Fabrik is one of the best hours you can spend in Rønne - especially combined with Bornholms Museum, five minutes' walk away: a joint ticket covers both sites in winter, and the Fællesbillet is worth it in summer.