Bornholm — The Forgotten Oath

Your quest begins in Store Torv, Rønne's central square since the Middle Ages, attested as a weekly market as early as 1346. Surrounded by listed 18th-century buildings, this 2,500 m² area was a crucial gathering point during the German occupation. Here, you discover the first traces of a forgotten oath, nestled among the stones of the adjacent Bornholms Museum, founded in 1890 to preserve the local history of Bornholm. Rønne's past, marked by its Hanseatic heritage, comes alive before your eyes, revealing the whispers of centuries past.

Continue towards Rønne Havn, a commercial port established in 1650, with quays stretching 1.2 km. In the 19th century, its capacity reached 50,000 tons per year, essential for the import of Swedish granite in 1820. This site was a fishing base since 1700, but also the tragic scene where 12 Bornholm ships were sunk by U-boats in 1943. The Rønne Lighthouse, built in 1862 and 17 meters high, dominates this maritime landscape. Here, clues about Bornholm's trade and survival strategies await you, revealing the island's tenacity.

The path then leads you to Svenskerhusene, a district of 22 typical Swedish wooden houses, built between 1730 and 1780. These buildings, with their characteristic Falun red style, were erected by Swedish settlers after the Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809. Listed as protected buildings since 1972, they represent the largest concentration of this type in Denmark and served as shelters during storms. Each house, approximately 60 m² habitable, holds fragments of history, life stories, and buried secrets, essential to your understanding of the oath.

Your exploration continues at Sankt Nicolai Kirke, a Hanseatic Gothic church built in 1350, whose tower culminates at 44 meters. Rebuilt after the fire of 1684, it houses 16th-century murals restored in 1956. A continuous place of worship for 700 years, its bell tower was even used as a maritime observation post in the 19th century. The 1843 organ, with its 28 registers, still resonates with prayers and mysteries. It is in this sacred place that you will decipher a crucial message, etched into Rønne's history.

Finally, your journey concludes at Rønne Tinghus, the neoclassical courthouse from 1833, designed by architect Christian Frederik Hansen. The judicial capital of Bornholm until 1970, it was the site of the trials of German collaborators after 1945, with 127 convictions. Its facade with 8-meter Doric columns, renovated in 2005, witnessed the evolution of justice in Bornholm. By connecting all the collected clues, you will reconstruct the forgotten oath, understanding how Rønne's history, with its Hanseatic heritage and protected Swedish houses, forged the island's identity through the centuries. This interactive visit of Bornholm will leave you with a deep understanding of the thematic circuit and the monuments of Rønne.