- Type
- Ruin
- Origins
- c. 1200 · 12th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- Capital Region of Denmark, Denmark
- Coordinates
- 55.2712°, 14.7558°
History
The castle was probably built in the 13th century by the archbishops of Lund to rule Bornholm, and for centuries they disputed it with the Danish kings. From 1525 to 1576 the island and castle were held by Lübeck. In 1658 Bornholm was ceded to Sweden, but the islanders rose up, killed the Swedish commander in Rønne, took Hammershus and handed the island back to the Danish king. In 1660–1661 the traitor Corfitz Ulfeldt and his wife Leonora Christina were imprisoned here. The castle was abandoned in 1743, and locals carted away its stone for building until the ruins were protected in 1822.
What to see
The sprawling ruins spread across a rock more than 70 metres above the sea, the best-preserved part being the tall Mantle Tower. Paths lead through gateways, courtyards and remnants of walls with views of the coast and cliffs. A visitor centre set into the slope in 2018 tells the castle's story, and nearby trails follow the clifftops.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q700384
Popularity: articles about this site in 21 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).