Name and Location

Hammer Odde Fyr is an active coastal lighthouse located at the northeastern tip of the Hammeren peninsula on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. The address is Hammer Odde Fyr 1, 3770 Allinge-Sandvig, Denmark.

Construction and History

Commissioned in 1895 by the Royal Danish Lighthouse Authority (Det Kgl. Danske Fyrvæsen), Hammer Odde Fyr was first lit that year. It was part of a late-19th-century effort to improve safety along Bornholm's rugged north coast, near the medieval Hammershus fortress ruins. Originally manned by local keepers, it became automated in the mid-20th century.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse was designed in a functional late-19th-century style using prefabricated cast-iron plates mounted on a concrete foundation. The tower is cylindrical with a red lantern roof, standing 21 meters (69 feet) above ground, with a focal height of approximately 23 meters above mean sea level.

Light and Navigation

Hammer Odde Fyr guides vessels through the waters west of Bornholm and into the approaches of Allinge–Sandvig. The lighthouse is currently active, but its light characteristic is not publicly documented. It has a range of circa 12 nautical miles.

Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds are freely accessible, while the tower interior is closed to visitors. Visitors can reach the site by car or on foot/bike via a coastal trail around Hammeren peninsula. There are no visitor center or restrooms on site.

Notable Views and Landscape

From the site, visitors can enjoy panoramic vistas across the Øresund strait toward Sweden on clear days and rugged Bornholm coastline. The nearby Hammershus Medieval Ruins (Denmark's largest medieval castle ruin) and Hammeren Nature Reserve offer further attractions.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local tradition holds that keepers' families maintained small vegetable gardens behind the tower, supplying fresh produce to passing fishermen. The name "Hammer" derives from the Old Norse hamarr, meaning "rock" or "crag," a nod to the peninsula's lichen-covered cliffs.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is currently managed by the Danish Maritime Authority (Søfartsstyrelsen) and has been listed on Bornholm's local registry of historic aids to navigation. It is recognized for its role in late-19th-century maritime safety and its cast-iron construction.

Further Information

For further reading, refer to the Danish Wikipedia article at https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hammerodde_Fyr, Wikidata at https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2855206, Lighthouse Directory (University of North Carolina) Hammerodde Light, Bornholm, and Bornholm Museum publications on coastal navigation.