Hammershus Castle

The origins of Hammershus date back to the 12th century, when the castle was primarily owned by the Archbishops of Lund. Over the centuries, it repeatedly changed hands between the archbishops and the Danish kings, for example in 1259, 1265, 1319, and 1325. In 1521, the castle came into the possession of Christian II, who imprisoned Bishop Jens Andersen Beldenak there, before the Hanseatic League of Lübeck conquered it in the same year. During Bornholm's pledge to Lübeck from 1525 to 1567, Hammershus served as the seat of the Lübeck bailiffs and was expanded into Northern Europe's largest castle complex under Bernt Knop (1525–1543). After a brief Swedish occupation in 1658, which ended with an uprising by the Bornholm population, the castle served as a prison for Leonora Christina and her husband Corfitz Ulfeldt between 1660 and 1661. It was often used as a state prison thereafter. In 1743, the castle was abandoned and partly used as a quarry until it was placed under monument protection in 1822. Initial conservation measures began in 1890 and continue to this day.

The Hammershus castle ruin is located in Allinge on the Danish island of Bornholm, which belongs to the Hovedstaden region. It stands at an elevation of approximately 66 meters above sea level.

The Hammershus castle ruin is now accessible to visitors and can be explored, making it a popular tourist destination.

• Lilleborg Borgruin (ruin), approx. 19.2 km away
• Gamleborg Castle Ruin (castle), approx. 20.0 km away
• Glimmingehus Castle (castle), approx. 41.9 km away
• Gärsnäs Castle (castle), approx. 46.8 km away