Ertholmene: Island Nature and Fortress History
Accommodation in Ertholmene
On Ertholmene, windswept rocky coastline, shady woods and gardens alternate within just a few hundred metres. There is also abundant birdlife and a history of fortifications visible in distinctive towers and a natural harbour. If you are looking for a holiday apartment for your island stay, you could first consider whether nature watching, the landscape or cultural history will shape your travel plans.
File:Bornholm - Christiansø og Frederiksø - vue.jpg
Photo: Hubertus via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Experience the birdlife and landscape
Thousands of eider ducks nest on the inhabited islands, even beside busy roads. In spring and autumn, numerous migratory birds visit Ertholmene, including cranes and goldcrests. A total of 302 different bird species have been observed; this total may increase as further observations are made. Over time, 52 breeding bird species have been recorded, while 25 species regularly breed on the islands. Ertholmene is also home to more than 15,000 breeding pairs.
The ponds are also part of the natural landscape: many amphibians live there, including toads, newts, the rare natterjack toad and the moor frog. Ertholmene is also a protected area for the Nordic honey bee. Up to 400 resting grey seals were reported in 2013; the island group is one of the largest resting sites for this species of seal. The timing is important: the figure of up to 400 refers to 2013.
Græsholm is a special place for birdwatching. The island is a bird sanctuary and closed to the public; it is home to one of Denmark’s largest seabird colonies. The birds can be watched through binoculars from Frederiksø. This makes it possible to observe them without contravening the access restrictions on Græsholm.
In 2020, Christiansø was designated an official nature conservation area by the Danish Outdoor Council. Earlier, in 2018, Ertholmene was included as one of 15 places in the Kingdom in Denmark’s Nature Canon, the official list of Denmark’s most beautiful places. These two dates refer to different designations.
Fortress history on Christiansø and Frederiksø
The natural harbour between Christiansø and Frederiksø was why King Christian V chose Ertholmene in 1684 as the site for his naval fortress. Store Tårn on Christiansø and Lille Tårn on Frederiksø were originally built as central defensive structures; today, both house museums. The two towers bring the fortress history to life at different locations across the island group.
Store Tårn has an integrated lighthouse dating from 1800 and was fully renovated from 2014 to 2018. Lille Tårn houses a museum with exhibitions on local military and cultural history. Those interested in the history of the area will find two tangible points of interest here: its former defensive function and its present-day use as a museum. Christiansø is also home to Galerie Palivaren at Juuls Bastion. Artists exhibit and sell their work there during the summer season.
Getting there and planning your stay
Christiansø can only be reached by the Christiansø Ferry. It departs from Gudhjem harbour; the crossing takes about an hour. During peak season, the Ertholm ferry runs up to three times a day. In winter, the post boat Peter operates twice daily on weekdays. As seasonal service frequencies may change, it is advisable to check the latest departure times before travelling.
When choosing a holiday apartment on Ertholmene, it is helpful to consider your interests alongside the journey there: are you mainly interested in birdwatching, the changing landscape or the history of the fortress? The ferry connection is a key part of planning, while the nature and cultural themes can help guide what you would like to discover during your stay.
For the broader travel overview: Denmark.
