Bornholm’s largest town awaits you. That town is Rønne. Rønne invites you to explore its captivating story. Rønne likely began around the year 1000. A small fishing community grew near its natural harbor.
Rønne’s story is one of herring and Hanseatic merchants. By 1275, a chapel dedicated to St. Nicolas was built. It stands where Rønne’s church is now. The community gained market town status. It had its own mayor, council, and law court.
The King of Denmark, the Archbishop of Lund, and German princes all sought control of Rønne. Germans saw Bornholm’s strategic Baltic Sea position. It lay between the German coast and Visby in Gotland. After the church expanded in 1360, the parish of Rønne was established.
Trade made Rønne prosper. But Lübeck repeatedly plundered and burned Rønne. In 1525, Lübeck controlled Bornholm. This compensated for Denmark’s debts. Lübeck merchants started businesses in Rønne. They boosted the fishing trade. They also demanded high taxes. Citizens chased the Lübeckers away. Other German communities remained. In 1576, Rønne returned to the Danish Crown.
The Baltic Sea lost strategic importance. The fishing industry declined. Plague struck Rønne twice. This was in 1619 and 1655. Recovery took decades.
In 1658, Denmark ceded Bornholm to Sweden. This occurred under the Treaty of Roskilde. But the occupation was short. The local population overcame the Swedes.
Rønne Town Hall was built in 1834. It stood on Store Torv. This was the town’s main square. The building was the center of administration. It housed the island’s courthouse and jail.
Soviet aircraft bombed Rønne in May 1945. This occurred at the end of World War II. The German commandant refused to surrender. The air raid destroyed many houses. But few civilians died. The population had advance warning. The Soviets occupied Bornholm. They sent the Germans back to Germany. The Soviet Union left in April 1946. Then the island returned to Danish rule.
Most Rønne houses were damaged or destroyed. Rebuilding took years. The town retained its traditional architecture. It also kept its quaint streets and half-timbered houses. Swedes donated timber houses. The rest of Denmark and its territories raised money. They helped Rønne rebuild.
Rønne’s climate is temperate and oceanic. This helps local fig trees thrive. They are called Bornholm’s Diamond.
Rønne’s economy grew in the Middle Ages. This was due to the herring industry. The fishing industry declined later. The ceramic industry grew. It has continued to modern times. Tourism is now the most important contributor to the local economy.
Rønne became famous for longcase clocks. They were called Bornholmerure. Production lasted from the mid-18th century to around 1900. A Dutch ship ran aground off Rønne in 1744. It carried damaged grandfather clocks. Poul Ottesen Arboe repaired them. He then made clocks himself. Several workshops made Bornholm clocks. They were cheaper than other models. About 30 clockmakers worked in Rønne. By the 1840s, they made thousands of clocks each year. Industrial clocks became cheaper. This halted Bornholm clock production.
Rønne has quaint cobbled streets. It also has low-timbered houses. Laksegade and Storegade contain historic houses. These were homes and businesses of merchants and noblemen. Landmarks include the Bornholm Museum and St Nicolas’s Church. You can also see the Defence Museum and the lighthouse.
The Bornholm Museum shows Rønne and Bornholm history. It covers the Paleolithic era to the modern age. It includes the World War II occupation. The museum has Nordic Bronze Age and Iron Age artifacts.
The Rønne Lighthouse is a slender white tower. It is made of cast iron. It was built in 1880 and decommissioned in 1989.
St Nicolas’s Church has a distinctive tower. It was enlarged and refurbished in 1918. It stands on the site of a 13th-century church or chapel.
The Defence Museum is in a round tower. The tower has thick walls. It was built in 1744 for defense. It was never used. The museum displays military history artifacts.
Store Torv is the central square. It was formerly used for military parades. Notable buildings surround the square. These include the Rønne Public Library and old warehouses.
The Toldboden is a merchant warehouse. It was built in 1624. It is one of Rønne’s oldest half-timbered buildings. Rønne Theatre was built in 1823. It is Denmark’s oldest provincial theater still in use.
Rønne connects to Denmark and other countries by ferry. Bornholmslinjen operates lines to various locations. There is also a high speed catamaran link. It connects to a direct train to Copenhagen. Bornholm Airport offers flights to Copenhagen.
Enjoy Rønne. Explore its history. Experience its charm.