Svaneke
Encyclopedia
Svaneke is a small town on the eastern coast of the Baltic
island of Bornholm
, Denmark
.
It is Denmark's easternmost and until few years ago the smallest and now the second smallest (only Ærøskøbing
is smaller) chartered town with a population of 1,100 as of 1st January 2011. With its charming half-timbered houses and narrow streets, it is one of the island's most cherished beauty spots.
It was in the 18th and 19th centuries that trade and shipbuilding expanded in Svaneke, resulting in the construction of the fine merchants' houses which still line the harbour. Unlike many of the other towns on Bornholm, Svaneke escaped modernization following the opening of the island's railways at the beginning of the 20th century. Its old-world look was further protected towards the end of the century by "The Friends of Svaneke" who prevented inappropriate renovation work.
to ceramics
, not to mention a couple of small sweet factories and even a miniature brewery
.
There are also a number of footpaths along the picturesque rocky coast as well as cycle tracks to all parts of the island. As for facilities, there is accommodation of all types including two camping sites, a hotel, and holiday apartments as well as quite a variety of restaurants, cafés and pubs. The local smokehouse
offering a variety of smoked fish and seafood is a popular venue.
, Svaneke's surprisingly shaped water tower
was built in 1952. It was inspired by the old sea mark
s used for assisting the navigation of ships at sea. The beacons were used along the Juttish West coast since the end of the 16th century when there were no other distinguishable markings on the coast.
The pyramidal water tank is supported by three slender ferro-concrete
legs which meet at the top of the tower. The centrally placed steps, also made of concrete, wind up elegantly from the ground. The water tower was taken out of service in 1988 when alterations to the water supply system were introduced. Since 1992, it has been a listed building.
(Sankt Ibs kirke), 3 km south-west of Svaneke, is a fine 12th century Romanesque
building. The altarpiece was painted by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
in 1846 with a picture of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane
. The Renaissance pulpit (ca 1600) was decorated by Paul Høm in 1964 with ceramics of the four evangelists.
which stands high above the harbour was built in 1629 making it the oldest preserved windmill in Denmark. In the 18th century, it was one of three such mills just north of the town. It takes its name from Hans Bentzen Bech who took it over in 1814. Initially the mill stood on the edge of the cliff but was moved back when the road was built in 1866. On that occasion, the mill was positioned on a tripod support and received highly developed works. Since 1928, it has been a listed building. Restoration work was carried out in 1972-1973 and between 2002 and 2007.
of Rønne
, leaving only the tower and a small section of the south wall.
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
island of Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
It is Denmark's easternmost and until few years ago the smallest and now the second smallest (only Ærøskøbing
Ærøskøbing
Ærøskøbing is a town in central Denmark, located in Ærø Municipality on the island of Ærø. The suffix -købing means a trade town in the languages that derive from Old Norse....
is smaller) chartered town with a population of 1,100 as of 1st January 2011. With its charming half-timbered houses and narrow streets, it is one of the island's most cherished beauty spots.
History
Svaneke probably dates back to the 13th century when herring fishing was practiced along Bornholm's east coast. The precise date at which it was granted the status of market town is not known but it was no doubt at the beginning of the 16th century as by 1543 it had a mayor and a municipal council. In 1610, almost half the town was destroyed by fire. In 1801, the population was still only 663 but this figure doubled in the 19th century as the new harbour (1816) provided enhanced opportunities for shipbuilding.It was in the 18th and 19th centuries that trade and shipbuilding expanded in Svaneke, resulting in the construction of the fine merchants' houses which still line the harbour. Unlike many of the other towns on Bornholm, Svaneke escaped modernization following the opening of the island's railways at the beginning of the 20th century. Its old-world look was further protected towards the end of the century by "The Friends of Svaneke" who prevented inappropriate renovation work.
Tourism
Svaneke owes its current prosperity to tourism, thanks to the well-preserved town centre which earned it the European Architectural Heritage Gold Medal in 1975. In particular, the quaint red-roofed, yellow lime-washed, half-timbered houses lining the narrow streets which wind down to the harbour and up to the church are a special attraction. The town is also a centre for arts and crafts with everything from glassblowingGlassblowing
Glassblowing is a glassforming technique that involves inflating molten glass into a bubble, or parison, with the aid of a blowpipe, or blow tube...
to ceramics
Ceramics (art)
In art history, ceramics and ceramic art mean art objects such as figures, tiles, and tableware made from clay and other raw materials by the process of pottery. Some ceramic products are regarded as fine art, while others are regarded as decorative, industrial or applied art objects, or as...
, not to mention a couple of small sweet factories and even a miniature brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
.
There are also a number of footpaths along the picturesque rocky coast as well as cycle tracks to all parts of the island. As for facilities, there is accommodation of all types including two camping sites, a hotel, and holiday apartments as well as quite a variety of restaurants, cafés and pubs. The local smokehouse
Smokehouse
A smokehouse is a building where meat or fish is cured with smoke. The finished product might be stored in the building, sometimes for a year or more.-History:...
offering a variety of smoked fish and seafood is a popular venue.
The water tower
Designed by award-winning architect Jørn UtzonJørn Utzon
Jørn Oberg Utzon, , AC was a Danish architect, most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When it was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, Utzon became only the second person to have received such recognition for one of his works during his lifetime...
, Svaneke's surprisingly shaped water tower
Svaneke Water Tower
The Svaneke Water Tower in the small town of Svaneke on the Danish island of Bornholm was designed by award-winning architect Jørn Utzon and completed in 1952. It was the first successful project of the architect who would later design the Sydney Opera House....
was built in 1952. It was inspired by the old sea mark
Sea mark
A sea mark, also seamark and navigation mark, is a form of aid to navigation and pilotage aid which identifies the approximate position of a maritime channel, hazard and administrative area to allow boats, ships and seaplanes to navigate safely....
s used for assisting the navigation of ships at sea. The beacons were used along the Juttish West coast since the end of the 16th century when there were no other distinguishable markings on the coast.
The pyramidal water tank is supported by three slender ferro-concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
legs which meet at the top of the tower. The centrally placed steps, also made of concrete, wind up elegantly from the ground. The water tower was taken out of service in 1988 when alterations to the water supply system were introduced. Since 1992, it has been a listed building.
St Ib's Church
St Ib's ChurchSt Ib's Church
St Ib's Church , 3 km south-west of Svaneke on the Danish island of Bornholm, is a fine 12th century Romanesque building. The altarpiece was painted by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg in 1846...
(Sankt Ibs kirke), 3 km south-west of Svaneke, is a fine 12th century Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
building. The altarpiece was painted by Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg
Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg was a Danish painter. He was born in Blåkrog in the Duchy of Schleswig , to Henrik Vilhelm Eckersberg, painter and carpenter, and Ingeborg Nielsdatter...
in 1846 with a picture of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane
Gethsemane
Gethsemane is a garden at the foot of the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem most famous as the place where, according to Biblical texts, Jesus and his disciples are said to have prayed the night before Jesus' crucifixion.- Etymology :...
. The Renaissance pulpit (ca 1600) was decorated by Paul Høm in 1964 with ceramics of the four evangelists.
Bech's windmill
The timbered post millPost mill
The post mill is the earliest type of European windmill. The defining feature is that the whole body of the mill that houses the machinery is mounted on a single vertical post, around which it can be turned to bring the sails into the wind. The earliest post mills in England are thought to have...
which stands high above the harbour was built in 1629 making it the oldest preserved windmill in Denmark. In the 18th century, it was one of three such mills just north of the town. It takes its name from Hans Bentzen Bech who took it over in 1814. Initially the mill stood on the edge of the cliff but was moved back when the road was built in 1866. On that occasion, the mill was positioned on a tripod support and received highly developed works. Since 1928, it has been a listed building. Restoration work was carried out in 1972-1973 and between 2002 and 2007.
Svaneke Church
Svaneke Church stands 18 m above the harbour on the site of a small chapel which appears to have existed for quite some time before the town received its charter in the 16th century. It was expanded over the years, the tower and spire being completed in 1789. In 1881, virtually the whole building was rebuilt by architect Mathias BidstrupMathias Bidstrup
Mathias Andreas Bidstrup was a Danish architect.He was born in Rønne, Bornholm, the son of cobbler Jorgen Bernhard Bidstrup and Marie Hansine Sonne. On the 17th April 1878 he married Cecilie Margrethe Bidstrup at the Sct. Nicolai Church in Rønne.From 1876 to 1916 he was a partner in the HP...
of Rønne
Rønne
Rønne is the largest town on the Danish island of Bornholm in the Baltic Sea. It has a population of 13,904 . Once a municipality in its own right, it is now the administrative centre of the Bornholm municipality....
, leaving only the tower and a small section of the south wall.