Svaneke

Svaneke through history

The town of Svaneke lies on the east coast of the Danish Baltic Sea island of Bornholm and, with a population of 1,200, is considered Denmark’s smallest town—though this says nothing about its importance. The town is believed to have been founded as early as the 12th century; like almost everywhere along the Baltic coast, it began as a fishing village. Thanks to its coastal location and harbour, Svaneke soon gained a certain importance as a trading town, and was actively used by the Hanseatic League’s towns and merchants. Svaneke is thus one of the distinctive features that characterise the individual coastal towns of the Baltic island of Bornholm. The harbour’s ongoing expansion even led to a regular steamer service to Copenhagen at the end of the 19th century, although the railway line on Bornholm never reached Svaneke.

Svaneke as a holiday destination

Tourism in Svaneke only began to develop in earnest after the Second World War. As a result, many more houses here have been preserved in their original condition than in other places on Bornholm or elsewhere in Denmark. The people of Svaneke turned this into an advantage, and in 1975 the town received the first “European Medal for Monument Preservation” for the conservation and restoration of its old town. The lively market on the town square, along with the small art galleries and craft workshops, makes Svaneke a very vibrant town today. A stroll through the compact yet highly varied old town, with its little restaurants and cosy boutiques, is an experience for every visitor to Bornholm and should be part of every holiday itinerary. Svaneke’s brewery, where several varieties of beer are brewed, is famous throughout Denmark. After a brief interruption, it revived the town’s brewing tradition, which dates back to 1750. Another treat is the traditional sweets sold at the Svaneke Bolcher shop. These two visitor attractions are part of a wide range of regional products, including textiles and jewellery, which are attractively displayed and sold in Svaneke. The town also draws artists. Its new landmark is a futuristic water tower, designed by Danish star architect Jørn Utzon, who also designed the Sydney Opera House. In winter, Utzon’s neighbour in Mallorca is the sculptor Anders Nyborg, who has created numerous monumental artworks in European cities and spends his summers at his gallery in Svaneke on Bornholm. Holidaymakers on Bornholm can, of course, stay in Svaneke itself. Accommodation includes several hotels, guesthouses, a youth hostel, campsites and, above all, numerous holiday homes and apartments. As a holiday and excursion destination on the Baltic island of Bornholm, Svaneke is one of the most popular places on Denmark’s Baltic coast.

You can book a holiday home in Svaneke directly

Places of interest on Bornholm