Our visit to Hammershus was perhaps the highlight of Gayle's and my short 1-day visit (off a Viking…read moreCruise Ship) to Bornholm. Bornholm was on of Viking's consolation ports, after their Baltic Cruise dropped Helsinki, Tallin, and St. Petersburg off the itinerary thanks to Russia's invasion of the Ukraine. Actually, Bornholm is a cool little island, that is full of great scenery, and with a reputation of good food, accomplished artists, and popular cultural events. However, Viking forgot to mention in their post-Putin literature that except for a few restaurants and sights (like Hammershus), Bornholm is basically closed on Sunday. Our experience involved a long but scenic (in spots) bus ride to Hammershus and the trip back. We saw places we'd love to stop, but unfortunately we were on the express bus. The Hammershus stop was a welcome one for a break from the bus, the tour guide's monotone, the chance for a comfort break, and the opportunity to walk around and enjoy the castle ruins. Hammershus is the oldest castle ruin in Northern Europe and dates back to many battles among the Danes, Swedes, Kings, and even the Church. I didn't dig too deep into the history as it's hard to focus after seeing so many churches, castle ruins, etc. within a European trip. Yet, itt was fun to see, walk around, and enjoy the ocean view. The Visitor's center is also nice, which includes a gift shop and a Cafe.

Visiting Hammarshus Castle was like spending a day on the great ice wall in Westeros. It was an…read moreincredible experience. This is the oldest castle ruin in Northern Europe, overlooking the plunging cliffs of the northern coast of the Danish island of Bornholm. It dates back to at least the year 1200, occupied at various times by Danish Vikings, Kings, and Swedish invaders. Having visited many castles, I can say this is a unique one. It lacks the ornate design of many German castles, but makes up for this by being a truly functional medieval fortress, complete with drawbridge and a partial moat. It is also a botanical gem, with a unique flora built up by centuries of collecting plants from abroad. The signs are in Danish with English summaries, so you can understand what each structure was used for. The new visitor center was under construction when I visited, though the architectural drawings on display indicate that it will be incredible. The site is easily accessible by bus once you arrive in Rønne, and the bus drivers on Bornholm were all very helpful. Totally worth the trip, I highly recommend it!