Olsker – Round Church and Højlyngsstien
Accommodation in Olsker
Explore Olsker through culture and outdoor activity: the round church makes a distinctive impression, while the section of Højlyngsstien from Olsker toward Rø Plantage offers its own way to experience the surroundings along the route. These two themes give your trip different focal points. When planning your stay, consider whether you are primarily interested in the architecture or would also like to set aside time for a tour.
File:Bornholm, Olsker kirke Peter Elfelt (15232694866).jpg
Photo: The Film Museum from Copenhagen, Denmark via Wikimedia Commons, CC0
Olsker Round Church: Height and architectural details
At 28 metres, Olsker Round Church is the tallest of Bornholm’s four round churches. Its architectural features include a total of nine loopholes. Its height offers a simple comparison with the island’s other round churches, while the loopholes draw attention to a specific detail of the building. If you find historic churches and their architecture fascinating, you can use your visit to take a closer look at these two features rather than just glancing at the building.
The church is normally open to visitors, unless religious services are taking place. It is closed from 1 December to 1 March. As religious services can also affect access, check whether a visit is possible before making plans. This way, you can keep both the seasonal closure and the condition that applies during the rest of the year in mind.
On the Højlyngsstien
On the section of Højlyngsstien from Olsker toward Rø Plantage, the first approximately four kilometres follow small asphalt roads. The route then runs mainly along gravel paths. This change in surface is useful information for planning your trip: you can judge whether a longer stretch on asphalt followed by gravel paths suits your plans. This information applies to this section, not to the entire Højlyngsstien. Check the latest route information before setting off.
More experiences on Bornholm
Bornholm also offers a variety of reasons to plan your trip beyond individual places. At the NaturBornholm experience centre, attractions include dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium, and a bison exhibition. As exhibitions can change, it is a good idea to check what is currently on offer before visiting. If you are interested in the island’s history, Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging, interactive way.
Bornholm’s maritime history also includes its smokehouses. The island’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, and herring has been smoked there ever since. Hasle is home to the last smokehouse on Bornholm where fish is smoked in the traditional way, using open chimneys and alder wood. These examples have different emphases: Gudhjem represents the historic beginning of the smoking tradition, while Hasle represents the traditional smoking method described here. Ekkodalen in Almindingen adds a landscape experience to the cultural attractions: it is Bornholm’s largest rift valley.
Getting to Bornholm and planning your trip
Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus, or train. For ferry travel, the route from Ystad in Sweden is one specific option: the crossing to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. Compare this duration with your own travel plans and check the latest timetables before choosing a connection. This keeps planning your journey to the island separate from deciding which experiences you are most interested in during your stay.
If you would like to broaden your itinerary, the places and themes mentioned offer further ideas for exploring Bornholm’s culture, nature, and maritime history.
Discover more destinations: Rø, Årsdale, Hasle, Nylars, Listed, Sandkås, Gudhjem, Boderne.
See the main travel overview: Bornholm.
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