Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ROUND CHURCHES
As the windmills are to Mykonos or the stone heads are to Easter Island, so are the four
12th-century round churches to Bornholm. The rundkirker(round churches) are the sym-
bols of the island, immediately familiar to every Dane. Each was built with 2m-thick white-
washed walls and a black conical roof at a time when pirating Wends from eastern Ger-
many were ravaging coastal areas throughout the Baltic Sea. They were designed not
only as places of worship but also as refuges against enemy attacks - their upper storeys
doubled as shooting galleries. They were also used as storehouses to protect valuable
possessions and trading goods from being carried off by the pirates.
Each church was built about 2km inland, and all four are sited high enough on knolls to
offer a lookout to the sea. These striking and utterly unique churches have a stern, pon-
derous appearance, more typical of a fortress than of a place of worship. All four
churches are still used for Sunday services. You'll find them at Østerlars, Olsker, Nyker
and Nylars.
Sleeping & Eating
Stammershalle Badehotel
BOUTIQUE HOTEL
( 56 48 42 10;
www.stammershalle-badehotel.dk
;
Sdr Strandvej 128, Rø; s/d incl breakfast from
Dkr700/900; )
Bornholm's most fabulous slumber spot occupies an imposing, early 20th-century bathing
hotel overlooking a rocky part of the coast a few kilometres north of Gudhjem. It's a calm-
ing blend of whitewashed timber and understated Cape Cod-esque chic, not to mention the
home of one of Denmark's up-and-coming New Nordic restaurants, Lassens. Book well
ahead, especially in the summer high season.
Lassens
MODERN SCANDINAVIAN
( 56 48 42 10;
www.stammershalle-badehotel.dk
;
Sdr Strandvej 128, Rø; small/large tasting menu
Dkr450/550; 6-11pm Jul & Aug, closed Mon May, Jun & Sep, shorter hrs rest of yr)
There are two restaurants foodies cannot afford to miss on Bornholm: Kadeau and Las-
sens, located at Stammershalle Badehotel. The latter is home to award-winning chef
Daniel Kruse, whose pure, showstopping compositions might include smoked scallops
