Nylars: Round Church and Cultural History
Accommodation in Nylars
If you are looking for a hotel for a cultural trip, Nylars offers a clear local point of interest in its round church. Regional Route 21 adds a look at the surrounding area; other excursions and cultural themes belong to the broader travel destination of Bornholm. This allows you to consider your choice of location and the planning of other destinations on Bornholm separately.
The Nylars Round Church as a Cultural Theme
The Nylars Round Church is considered Bornholm’s best-preserved round church. It bears clearer witness to its former use for defensive purposes than the other round churches. It therefore brings together two cultural-historical perspectives: its comparatively good state of preservation and its former defensive function. This combination gives you a specific point of reference if you want to take religious buildings and their historical role into account when choosing a travel destination.
The church is dedicated to Sct. Nicolaus of Myra, who is described as the guardian angel of sailors. This dedication adds a different emphasis from the statement about its defensive use: it points to a religious connection with seafarers, while the round form and former defensive function concern the building’s history and use. When considering the Nylars Round Church, you can therefore look at its dedication, state of preservation and former function as distinct aspects.
Regional Route 21 near Nylars
In the immediate surroundings of the destination, Regional Route 21 leads towards Nylars. In the broader regional context, it is 32 kilometres long, fully paved and partly follows old railway lines. The route is described as easy and flat, and ideal for families and beginners. You therefore have different points of reference when choosing the character of your trip: the round church as cultural heritage, and the regional route with its specified length, surface and description.
Bornholm as a Broader Travel-Planning Framework
Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. Check current timetables before travelling, as routes and times may change. The stated duration applies to the crossing; the other connections are also relevant when planning your journey.
On Bornholm, the NaturBornholm experience centre offers a different focus from Bornholms Middelaldercenter. NaturBornholm features dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium and a bison exhibition. Since exhibitions can change, it is best to check what is currently on display before your visit. The Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that presents Bornholm in the 14th century in an engaging and interactive way. The two options are therefore an experience centre with a range of exhibitions and an open-air museum with a clearly defined historical theme.
The tradition of smokehouses is another distinctive Bornholm theme. Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, and herring has been smoked there ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is the last smokehouse on Bornholm where fish is smoked in the traditional way, using open chimneys and alder wood. Gudhjem thus represents the historic beginning, while Hasle stands out for the smoking method described.
Bornholm also offers different ways to experience its landscapes. Ekkodalen in Almindingen is Bornholm’s largest rift valley. From the cliffs above Opal Lake, the view extends over the surrounding area, the Baltic Sea and the Hammershus castle ruins. The Hammershus visitor centre offers panoramic views of Hammershus. Each place has its own emphasis: the rift valley, the view from the cliffs and the view of Hammershus from the visitor centre.
Discover more destinations: Arnager, Nyker, Pedersker, Østerlars, Allinge-Sandvig, Ertholmene, Klemensker, Rø.
See the broader travel overview: Bornholm.
