Bornholm history

There has been people on Bornholm for many thousand years. Passage graves, monoliths and stone carvings from the Bronze and Iron ages are present all over the island. Two Viking forts can be found on the island center. Now consisting of several earth embankments, they were originally used as refuges for the population during attacks from marauding enemies.

It is believed that Bornholm became a part of the Danish kingdom during the Viking age and that it was a well-established trading point in the Baltic area.

The island has not always been Danish

Bornholm has been part of and/or occupied by Sweden, Lübeck (Germany) and Soviet union. Before the 13th century the island was part of Scania (southern part of Sweden). In 1525, Bornholm was pawned to Lübeck for 50 years. Sweden conquered the island in 1645, but returned the island to Denmark in a peace settlement. After a war in 1658, Denmark ceded the island to Sweden. A year later, in 1659, the people of Bornholm revolted and fought against the Swedish garrison, as they were suppressed with high taxes and forced work, and gave themselves back to the Danish king.

During the second world Bornholm was occupied by German forces, which stayed on the island, even after the rest of was liberated on May 5, 1945. This resulted in the Russians bombing Rønne and Nexø. The towns were rebuilt and you can still see the Swedish wood houses in some areas.

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