Østermarie: Churches, Rune Stones and Inland Landscape

Østermarie lies in northeastern Bornholm and combines a distinctive church and rune stone tradition with an agricultural inland landscape. The town is located 10 km south of Gudhjem, 8 km west of Svaneke and 21 km east of Rønne. These distances place Østermarie between several well-known places on the island, while the churches, cemetery and open landscape define the town’s individual character.

Culture and History

A particularly vivid testament to the town’s history is Østermarie Church. It was built in 1891 next to the ruin of an older church dating from around 1225. At this site, a more recent church building and the remains of a significantly older religious structure therefore stand directly next to each other. The chronological difference between the two buildings remains visible in the site itself: the present church dates from the late 19th century, while the ruin points to a much earlier period of church history.

The newer church is used for concerts by KulturBornholm and the Bornholm Music Festival. Its present-day cultural use complements the visible historical connection between the 1891 building and the older church ruin. Østermarie thus brings together different forms of cultural heritage within one town: the preserved newer church building, the ruin of its predecessor and a use in which the church continues to serve as an event venue.

Another connection to Bornholm’s history can be found in Østermarie Cemetery, where four rune stones stand. The Østermarie alphabet stone was found at Jessegård, about 3½ km south of the town. It is considered nearby cultural heritage, but is not located as a monument within Østermarie. This distinction between the cemetery in the town and the find site outside the town area is part of the spatial structure of the local cultural heritage. The rune stone tradition is therefore present both directly in Østermarie and through its connection to Jessegård.

Landscape

Østermarie has an agriculturally shaped inland landscape. Large fields, small natural areas and exposed bedrock define its appearance. The landscape is formed by the juxtaposition of extensive arable fields, small pockets of nature and rocks exposed at the surface. None of these elements stands alone: only their combination describes the surroundings as an open, rural inland landscape and at the same time distinguishes them from a densely built-up townscape.

Geographical Setting

The surrounding area of Østermarie includes Hullehavn, Sorte Gryde, Bornholm, Bodilskirke and Brændesgårdshaven. These five names are assigned to the immediate surroundings or the surrounding area. The wider regional surroundings of Østermarie also include Antoinette, Hammershus and Solomons Kapel. This spatial classification therefore distinguishes between the surrounding area and the more broadly defined regional surroundings, without combining the two levels into a single local relationship.

More local pages on Bornholm: KÃ¥s, Balka, Svaneke, Olsker, Listed, Sose, Boderne and Knudsker.

To the main travel overview: Bornholm.