High upon Bornholm stands Ruts Kirke its story etched in stone and time. Did you know this isn’t just any church? It’s the highest-situated church on the island.
Ruts Kirke lends its name to Rutsker Sogn. Imagine the echoes of old Bornholmish tongues calling it Ruskersen. The name morphed over time. In 1491 it was known as Ros Kirke. Ros might mean stendynge or pile of stones. The ker ending is Bornholmish for church.
We are standing at a place of immense history. Ruts Kirke was built around 1100. It shares the title of Denmark’s highest church with Oster Nykirke. The church is 130 meters above sea level.
Pause for a moment and think about those who walked this ground before us. Ruts Kirke is dedicated to Saint Michael. He is the only saint named on Bornholm’s runestones.
The churchyard whispers stories of its own. Otto J. Lund a local poet rests here. Claus Johansen a painter also found his final resting place here.
Look at the graceful bell tower. It stands proudly in the churchyard embankment. Inside the church once stood a lamp from Hammershus. The church was built in Romanesque style around 1200.
Bornholm’s hero Povl Anker served as a priest here. He stood for freedom.
Ruts Kirke remains a sentinel on Bornholm. It connects us to the past. Its stones hold stories of faith. Its elevation offers a unique perspective. Take a moment to appreciate its beauty.