Tejn – Harbor and Fishing History on Bornholm
Accommodation in Tejn
Tejn’s history can be explored through its harbor and fishing heritage. For a long time, the town was a small fishing village without a proper harbor. Fishermen brought their catch ashore at a simpler, unprotected spot on the coast; a proper harbor was built in 1868. This development gives the harbor town a historical focus and also leads to traces of the former processing of the catch.
Harbor and Smokehouses
Tejn once had 18 herring smokehouses. They stood in the streets around the coast and the old harbor. The Røgerinoen route passes through Tejn; signs, photos, and QR codes tell the story of the old smokehouses along the way. The old Isværk stood at the end of the pier at Tejn Havn. In the past, ice for the fishermen’s catches was made there.
Beer and Maritime Experiences
At the Penyllan brewery, wooden barrels, slow aging, and house yeast cultures are part of the beer-making process. Thousands of liters of beer mature over a long period in large cellars. When the bar and shop are open, visitors can taste the beer where it is made, near the boats and harbor buildings. Check the current opening hours in advance.
At ivandet in Tejn Havn, visitors can explore the underwater world and wildlife of the Baltic Sea together with marine biologists. The offerings include maritime activities for the whole family. During school holidays and public holidays, visitors can use waders, fishing nets, water viewers, or snorkeling equipment to explore fish, algae, small animals, and life in the harbor up close. As these activities are tied to school holidays and public holidays, check the current dates in advance.
Tejn Havn is also a good stopover for recreational boaters traveling along Bornholm’s north coast. This offers a different perspective on the harbor: while the smokehouses and Isværk tell the story of the former fishing industry, the harbor is also a useful landmark for recreational boaters along the coast.
More Perspectives on Bornholm
The history of smoking fish can also be explored elsewhere on Bornholm. Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866, where herring has been smoked ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is the last smokehouse on Bornholm where fish is smoked traditionally using open chimneys and alder wood. Together with Tejn’s 18 former smokehouses, these examples offer different insights into the island’s smoking tradition.
Bornholm also offers cultural and landscape attractions. Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that brings 14th-century Bornholm to life in an engaging and interactive way. At the NaturBornholm experience center, you’ll find dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium, and a bison exhibition. As exhibitions may change, it’s worth checking what’s currently on offer before visiting.
For scenic views of Bornholm, there are several places to choose from: Ekkodalen in Almindingen is Bornholm’s largest rift valley. The visitor center at Hammershus offers panoramic views of Hammershus; from the cliffs above Opal Lake, you can see the surrounding area, the Baltic Sea, and the Hammershus castle ruins. If you’re interested in a historic church, you can enter Østerlars Round Church, provided no service is taking place. There is an admission fee; visitors can climb up to the roof beams. Check the current visiting conditions before your visit.
Getting to Bornholm
Bornholm can be reached by ferry, plane, bus, or train. The ferry crossing from Ystad in Sweden to Bornholm takes one hour and 20 minutes. As routes and timetables may change, check the current connections before you travel.
Discover more destinations: Muleby, Ertholmene, Pedersker, Svaneke, Klemensker, Rønne Sogn, Arsballe, Nylars
For the overview of the wider region: Bornholm.
