Aarsdale Tourist Information
Aarsdale is a residue of the old Bornholm. Here, people were self-sufficient with both potatoes and herrings. You will notice that the fishing hamlet is airy and vigorous with small lots between the houses.
But Aarsdale is still an active and living town of Bornholm and even today, the harbour is full of active professional fishermen. The many small fishing boats, up to 20 tons, bear witness of the energy and will of the Aarsdale fishermen, who wanted to hold on to the fishery.
The same goes for the utter smoking tradition of Bornholm. On your walk along the small streets of Aarsdale you find not less than 3 active smokehouses, which is a record of Bornholm and then in such a small town! On Aarsdale herring smokehouse in the street “Gaden” you can eat the warm smoked fishing specialties on the spot or take them with you wrapped in the newspaper Bornholms Tidende.
The uttermost point of Aarsdale is called Oren. Here, the fiskermen spread out their fishing yarns when they should be tarred and fixed. You still find an open spot here between the sea and the characteristic house ends of the street “Gavlegade”. The oldest houses of the fishing hamlets turn their house ends towards the sea just like a ship lies best with the stern towards the waves when it blows. The stacks of alder wood signal that one of the active smokehouses of the town is situated right here.
The last grocer’s shop of the town is now converted into a harbour café. You need to go shopping in Nexø and Svaneke, but you find a kiosk by the bay at the harbour. Besides, here you can observe a rich bird life on the cliffs and in the water of the bay.
Do you want to sense the soughing when the giant arms of a Dutch windmill go close over your head? Or experience the creaking and groaning tree, when the mill works at full speed? Aarsdale Mill mills flour by the efforts of the wind and it has worked like this since the mill was built here in 1877. You can feel the flour dust in your nose, when you crawl up the small, steep steps to the third and fourth floor, while the machinery of the mill rumbles around you, and the wind catches the large arms and the whole mill is like a living organism. This is the technique of the past when it is best, and the mill is still run by the fourth generation.
You hardly believe how smooth and fine granite and sandstone can get, when it’s polished. The stones are shaped and polished into jewelleries, watches, table lamps and candlesticks, and you can see it all in the stone polisher’s workshop of Aarsdale Mill, which you find in the old storehouse next to the mill.
The residents of Aarsdale have to go to Ibsker when they want to go to church. The street Aarsdale Kirkevej leads you up to Ibs Church and here it has been possible for the fishermen to hear the Word of God for the past 800 years. St. Ibs Church is one of the oldest churches of the island and it has the second largest tower (Aa Church has the largest one). The tower is made by raw granite boulders and with warehouse doors to the second and third floors, where the goods of the area could be stored safely. Only a few things have been changed from the original shape of the church and you get an impression of exceedingly old solidity.
It was hardly only because of the long way to St. Ibs Church, that many inhabitants of Aarsdale preferred to hear the Word of God in their own town. You often see one of the many free congregations of Bornholm and their houses of God on your way in Aarsdale.
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