Østermarie is located in northeastern Bornholm and combines a clearly defined location with distinctive traces of history and culture. The town is situated 10 km south of Gudhjem, 8 km west of Svaneke and 21 km east of Rønne. Østermarie is therefore characterized not only by its location on Bornholm, but also by its connections to several well-known places on the island.

Culture

One particularly prominent place in Østermarie is Østermarie Church. It was built in 1891 next to the ruins of an older church, whose construction dates back to around 1225. The newer church therefore stands directly beside the remains of the older religious building. At the same time, it serves as a venue for concerts by KulturBornholm and for concerts held as part of the Bornholm Music Festival. At this location in Østermarie, a building from the late 19th century, the ruins of a church dating from around 1225 and a current musical use therefore come together.

Another distinctive feature can be found in the cemetery of Østermarie: four runestones stand there. The Østermarie alphabet stone was found at Jessegård, about 3½ km south of the town. It is regarded as a nearby cultural and historical feature, rather than as a monument within the town itself. This distinction is part of the townscape, as is the precise location of the find: the four runestones are located in the cemetery, while the Østermarie alphabet stone is associated with Jessegård south of Østermarie, outside the town.

Landscape

Østermarie is situated in an inland landscape shaped by agriculture. Large fields, together with small natural areas and exposed rock, define its character. The landscape is therefore characterized neither exclusively by continuous agricultural areas nor exclusively by natural areas. It is precisely the coexistence of extensive fields, small pockets of nature and exposed bedrock that describes the landscape structure around the town.

These landscape features form the tranquil geographical setting for the various local references associated with Østermarie. Large areas and individual natural spaces stand alongside the cultural traces mentioned in the town. The result is not a uniform picture defined by just one feature, but a combination of inland countryside, agriculture, rock, cemetery, church architecture and concert use.

Geography

The surrounding area of Østermarie includes Hullehavn, Sorte Gryde, Bornholm and Bodilskirke. Brændesgårdshaven is also located in the surrounding area of the town. These places and names therefore belong to the same spatial level of Østermarie’s immediate surroundings. By contrast, Antoinette, Hammershus and Solomons Kapel are located in Østermarie’s wider regional surroundings. The two spatial levels remain separate: Hullehavn, Sorte Gryde, Bornholm, Bodilskirke and Brændesgårdshaven are assigned to the surrounding area, while Antoinette, Hammershus and Solomons Kapel are part of the wider regional surroundings.

For geographical orientation around Østermarie, both the three specific directional references to Gudhjem, Svaneke and Rønne and the place references covering different distances are therefore relevant. Within the town, Østermarie Church and the cemetery with its four runestones are the main points of interest. The site where the Østermarie alphabet stone was found is located south of the town at Jessegård; other names range from the surrounding area to Bornholm’s wider regional surroundings.

More destinations

More destinations on Bornholm: Arsballe, Sandkås, Nylars, Allinge-Sandvig, Svaneke, Balka, Rønne Sogn and Vang.

To the higher-level travel overview: Bornholm.