Nylars Church is one of Bornholm’s four round churches and is located in the village of Nylars. The church is dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra, the patron saint of seafarers, and was built around 1150–1170 as a combined church and defensive structure providing protection against external threats. The tall, pointed shingle roof that characterises the church today was added in the early 17th century, while the church was previously surrounded by a strong circular fortification wall.
Nylars Church is considered the best constructed of Bornholm’s round churches. It is built with a 1.5–2 metre thick box wall and has an interior diameter of 11 metres. The structure requires no buttresses, which reflects highly skilled stone masonry. Originally, the church had two doors, the northern one – the women’s door – later being bricked up and replaced by a window.
Inside, visitors can see frescoes from the Late Romanesque period (c. 1250–1300), depicting scenes from the Creation and the Fall of Man. In the porch stand two rune stones, including one from around 1050 and another often referred to as Bornholm’s most beautiful Christian rune stone, raised in memory of a father who drowned at sea.
The church also contains a baptismal font made of Gotland limestone and a chancel arch crucifix dating from around 1600. In the bell tower hang two bells: a smaller one from 1702 and a larger one cast in 1882.
Nylars Church is not only a historical monument but also an active gathering place for services and cultural events. With its distinctive architecture and rich history, the church is a highly worthwhile destination for anyone interested in Bornholm’s culture and past.
