Østermarie Church and church ruins

About the church

Visit Østermarie Church, located on the eastern outskirts of Østermarie. Østermarie Church was inaugurated on October 18, 1891.

The church is built in "Paradis granite" and was designed by architect Andreas Clemmensen (who also participated in the construction of the current Christiansborg Palace). The ruin is the remains of a church built around 1200. It was listed because of its architectural details.

The original roof structure was entirely made of stone - and only the upper roofing itself was made of wood. The construction of the new church is mentioned by Martin Andersen Nexø in his memoir "Under åben himmel". When built, the church could accommodate 1,000 people (now up to 400). It cost DKK 53,460.80 including the demolition of the old church and some necessary additional work.

Church ruins

Remains of Oestermaries first church are to be found in the south wing and west porch of the present day church. The ruins are classified and administrated by the national museum. The decay of the buildings has been suspended due to the discovery of artistic architecture and tec- nical archaeological details, in the constructions of the roof. There are also runic stones and gravestones of interest.

Altar section and baptismal font

The altar in Østermarie appears as it was colored by the Bornholm artist Poul Høm during the church's restoration. The old church's altar can be seen at Bornholm Museum.

The baptismal font dates from around 1250 and was produced on Gotland in granite. The baptismal font from around 1575 is from Nuremberg and depicts the Annunciation

The author Martin Andersen Nexø also built...

Østermarie Church is built as a cruciform church in dark Paradise granite, and among the workers in the construction of the church was, among others, the author Martin Andersen Nexø. South of the church lies the ruin of the old church built around 1225.