Stubbeløkken – Rønne Granitværk

What secrets lie beneath the surface of Snorrebakken? Here at Stubbeløkken – Rønne Granitværk, the landscape whispers tales of ancient grazing grounds and stubborn bedrock. Long ago, this area, known as “I Stubbene,” was a tapestry of rocky outcrops, scrub, and small forests, unsuitable for traditional farming. Imagine the vibrant wildflowers like Bakke-Gøgeurt and Hylde-Gøgeurt that may have dotted the landscape. Fast forward to 1833, the demand for granite for construction and roads grew. A consortium of Rønne citizens saw an opportunity. They began quarrying granite in Stubbeløkken’s løkker. Another quarry and stonemasonry were established by Rønne merchant H A Colberg at Buskegård, further transforming Stubbeløkken. These quarries merged under “De forenede Granitbrud og Stenhuggerier” in 1873. Later, in 1941, they became part of A/S Rønne Granitværk, then Superfoss-Dammann-Luxol, and now NCC. Stubbeløkken – Rønne Granitværk was no longer just a source of granite blocks. It became a hub for producing asphalt and concrete, with granite chippings as a key ingredient. The export of crushed granite from Rønne Havn flourished, reaching a peak of 360,000 tons in 1986. Today, Stubbeløkken – Rønne Granitværk still extracts granite from its depths, a staggering 125 meters deep, 60 meters below sea level. Bringing the granite to the surface from such depths presents a significant challenge, prompting requests to expand the quarry. A breathtaking view of the quarry awaits you at a rest area with an information board, just 100 meters southwest of Knuds kirke. From this vantage point, you can appreciate the sheer scale of the operation and witness the thriving birdlife, including the peregrine falcons that have made this dramatic landscape their home. The story of Stubbeløkken – Rønne Granitværk echoes the changing relationship between humans and the land. From ancient grazing grounds to a modern industrial site, it stands as a testament to human ingenuity and the enduring power of natural resources.