Østermarie

Church architecture and furnishings

Østermarie Church was inaugurated on 18 October 1891. Andreas Clemmensen designed the building, which was constructed from Paradis granite. The furnishings also bring together different periods and places of origin: the altar’s colour scheme dates from the church’s restoration and is the work of Bornholm artist Poul Høm. The granite baptismal font was made on Gotland around 1250; the baptismal bowl, dating from around 1575, comes from Nuremberg and depicts the Annunciation to Mary.

E-bike route and regional highlights

The Hilly Billy e-bike route passes through gently rolling countryside to Østermarie. The town has a double church, one part of which is a ruin. From there, the route continues towards Paradisbakkerne and through the fishing village of Årsdale on the east coast. A stop for a beer or smoked herring may be an option there. Before setting off, check the current route and confirm whether this place to stop is still available.

Bornholm: more things to explore

As a wider travel destination, Bornholm offers other interests that complement Østermarie’s character. At the NaturBornholm experience centre, you can see dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition; exhibitions may change over time. Bornholms Middelaldercenter offers a different focus: this 15-hectare open-air museum brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an informative and interactive way. Together, these offer animal and aquarium experiences alongside an interactive portrayal of the island’s history.

Bornholm’s landscape also offers some distinctive vantage points. Ekkodalen in Almindingen is Bornholm’s largest rift valley. From the cliffs above Opal Lake, you can look out over the surrounding area, the Baltic Sea and the ruins of Hammershus Castle; the Hammershus visitor centre offers panoramic views of Hammershus.

Visiting Østerlars Round Church is subject to the church service schedule: when no service is taking place, visitors can enter for a fee and climb up to the roof beams. Check before your visit whether this option is currently available.

The smoking tradition is also part of Bornholm’s regional character. Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, and herring has been smoked there ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is the last smokehouse on Bornholm where smoking is still carried out in the traditional way, using open chimneys and alder wood.

Getting to Bornholm

Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad in Sweden to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. Check the latest timetables before planning your trip.

Choose your holiday rental based on what you want to experience

When searching for a holiday rental, it is worth first deciding whether you want to focus on church architecture and the e-bike experience in Østermarie, or explore Bornholm more for its landscapes, museums and smoking traditions. You can use this priority to guide your choice of location.

Discover more destinations: Nylars, Arsballe, Vester Sømarken, Bodilsker, Vang, Sandkås, Rø, Hasle.

See the main travel overview: Bornholm.