Østerlars Church

Østerlars Round Church, near Gudhjem in the interior of the Danish island of Bornholm, is the largest of the island’s four round churches and is thought to be among the oldest. It dates from around 1160, judging by coins of 1157 found in the floor. The round nave measures about 16 m across on the outside. At its centre stands a hollow pillar about 6 m wide, containing a small room known as the ‘oven’.

The central pillar carries frescoes from about 1350 showing biblical scenes from the Annunciation to the Last Judgement. They were whitewashed after the Reformation and only uncovered again in 1882. The sturdy buttresses were added in the 16th century, and the top storey seems to have served as an open shooting gallery, so the church was built to be defended. The detached bell tower was originally the entrance and gate tower. Outside services you can look around the church. The island’s other three round churches are at Nyker, Nylars and Olsker.