Discover Østermarie: Church and E-bike Route
Accommodation in Østermarie
Østermarie combines a distinctive church-building history with the Hilly Billy E-bike Route, which leads into the town. Østermarie Church was consecrated at the end of the 19th century; parts of its furnishings date from earlier centuries. The route passes through gently rolling terrain to Østermarie and introduces the town and its double church. Anyone looking for a hotel in Østermarie can consider church architecture and an E-bike tour as different interests when planning a trip. Bornholm also has other destinations to explore.
Østermarie church (1891) and ruins of the old church (approx 1200)
Photo: Jens Cederskjold via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0
Østermarie Church: Building and Furnishings
Østermarie Church was consecrated on October 18, 1891. The architect Andreas Clemmensen designed the building, which was constructed from “Paradis granite.” The granite baptismal font dates from around 1250 and was made on Gotland. The baptismal dish dates from around 1575, comes from Nuremberg, and depicts the Annunciation to Mary. The altar features the color scheme created by Bornholm artist Poul Høm during the church’s restoration.
The dates highlight the difference in age between the church building and its older furnishings. Their places of origin also provide different points of reference: Gotland for the baptismal font, and Nuremberg for the baptismal dish. Together with the altar’s color scheme, they offer an overview of several historical layers of the church.
A Café in a Historic School Building
About 1 km outside Østermarie, Fru Petersens Café is housed in a former parish school dating from 1908. The building was designed by the architect Mathias Bidstrup. The story of a former school building is therefore also part of the area around the town.
Hilly Billy: The Town and the Rest of the Route
The Hilly Billy E-bike Route passes through gently rolling terrain to Østermarie, a town with a double church; one of the churches is a ruin. Beyond Østermarie, Hilly Billy heads towards Paradisbakkerne and passes through the fishing village of Årsdale on the east coast. There you can stop for a beer or smoked herring. Check the current route before setting out, and check availability before stopping for refreshments.
More Destinations on Bornholm
Bornholm offers attractions with a range of different themes. At the NaturBornholm experience center, you’ll find dinosaurs, live crocodiles, an aquarium, and a bison exhibition; exhibitions may change. Bornholms Middelaldercenter is a 15-hectare open-air museum that presents Bornholm in the 14th century in an accessible, interactive way. The venues differ in their focus: NaturBornholm combines animal and exhibition themes, while Middelaldercenter focuses on a specific historical century.
The island’s landscape and smoking traditions also shape its character. Ekkodalen in Almindingen is Bornholm’s largest rift valley. Bornholm’s first smokehouse opened in Gudhjem in 1866; herring has been smoked there ever since. Hasle Smokehouse is the last smokehouse on Bornholm where fish is smoked traditionally over alder wood in open chimneys.
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. Check current connections and timetables before departure, as routes and services may change.
Discover more destinations: Vang, Muleby, Kås, Bodilsker, Svaneke, Pedersker, Olsker, Hasle
For the main travel overview: Bornholm.
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