Hammershus
Hammershus — Bornholms borg · Hammershus Bornholm Fortress · Hammershus Castle Bornholm · Hammerhus Ruin
High–Late Medieval Bornholm 1259–1658 (Lund Archbishop Danish struggle)·Medieval Bornholm (Lund Archbishop vs Danish crown, Hammershus feud 1259)·🇩🇰 Capital Region, Bornholm island, Hammeren peninsula northwestern tip Bornholm (Hammeren granit outlier 74 m a.s.l. cliff 12 ha promontory), Denmark
About
About Hammershus
Hammershus — largest medieval fortress ruin in Scandinavia (c.1259 Archbishop Jacob Erlandsen, Lund–Danish struggle 13th c) on Hammeren granite promontory 74 m a.s.l. northwestern Bornholm, 12 ha enclosure with 750 m ring wall 4 m thick 10 m high, keep 20 m, outer bailey. Lund archbishop vs Danish crown struggle 1259–1658 (Hammershus feud). Excavated Billing. Bornholm granite 12 ha cliff fortress above Østersø (Baltic) with harbour Hammershus Havn 1 km south. Strategic Østersø watch, Bornholm annex 1525 Danish. Abandoned 1743. Bornholm medieval centre vs Sorte Muld Iron Age centre south. Bornholm's dual centre.
Why it mattersScandinavia's largest medieval ruin — 12 ha 750 m ring 74 m granit Bornholm 1259
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why 74 m Hammeren granite vs lower?
Theories
- 01Lund Bornholm ecclesiastical vs crown
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1259 Archbishop Jacob Erlandsen Lund foundation 750 m ring; keep 13th–14th c
- Period
- High–Late Medieval Bornholm 1259–1658 (Lund Archbishop Danish struggle)
- Culture
- Medieval Bornholm (Lund Archbishop vs Danish crown, Hammershus feud 1259)
- Builders
- Lund Archbishop Jacob Erlandsen masons (Hammershus Danish struggle)
- Purpose
- Hammeren 12 ha cliff fortress 74 m 750 m ring controlling northwestern Bornholm and Østersø
- Abandoned
- 1743 quarry; preserved ruin Bornholm's north
- Rediscovered
- 1743 abandon, heritage continuous Hammeren 74 m
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1259 CE
Lund Jacob Erlandsen starts Hammeren 750 m ring 74 m
1525 CE
Danish crown takes Bornholm Hammershus
1743 CE
Abandon quarry Hammershus largest ruin
On the ground
Structures & features
55.2700° N · 14.7700° E · 74 m · 3 mapped features
Ring Wall 750 m 10 m High
wallRing wall 750 m 4 m thick 10 m high on Hammeren 74 m promontory northwest Bornholm
55.2705° N · 14.7705° EKeep 20 m Lund Archbishop
keepKeep 20 m high Lund Jacob Erlandsen 1259 above Østersø Baltic
55.2695° N · 14.7690° EOuter Bailey Hammeren Harbour
baileyOuter bailey 12 ha and Hammershus Havn harbour 1 km south on Granit coast
55.2710° N · 14.7720° E
Gallery