Christianso, Denmark
We arrived off the lea shore of the two tiny granite islands of Christianso and Frederikso and were boarding Zodiacs by 8:30am. The two islands are now entirely protected but it is not a static museum. Rather it has a tiny all year round population of 100 and it has a small grammar school. The children are able to attend until the 7th grade at which time they must leave the island. To live on such a remote island is to have to live with the elements, principally the vagaries of the sea. For example, church services are held only every other Sunday and the dental clinic is open three times a year!
As we walked around this idyllically peaceful place it was hard to avoid the memory of past conflicts as cannons and batteries were virtually everywhere along the sea. The conflicts date back to the middle of the 17th century. Denmark had effectively given up all its possessions this far east in the Baltic to Sweden. However, shortly after 1658 a successful rebellion against Sweden took place on Bornholm and spread here. Denmark once again took control of these islands and used Christianso as its eyes and ears in the eastern part of its empire. A considerable amount of military building was undertaken and in the years 1670-99 there were 450 soldiers stationed on these two islands. Most of the present military buildings date from the 1770’s.
Today all is quiet and peaceful. The main industry is fishing and it appears to be thriving. The principle fish are cod, salmon and herring. During the summer months tourism takes hold and the island has many ferries daily from Bornholm. The variety of flowers and trees that grow here is quite considerable and the island has a diverse habitat with marshes, swamps, fresh water ponds and sunny open fields. In the depressions where the wind cannot reach grows willow, poplar, maple elm, ash and hornbeam in profusion. I noticed an abundanceof wild roses growing everywhere and some enterprising gardener had planted an enormous bed of hollyhock and a large fig growing against a rock wall. We lingered in this beautiful place where nature is allowed to flourish until noon. We returned to the Sea Cloud II refreshed and grateful for having spent a few hours here. Our last destination on a wonderful journey which will linger in our memory.
We arrived off the lea shore of the two tiny granite islands of Christianso and Frederikso and were boarding Zodiacs by 8:30am. The two islands are now entirely protected but it is not a static museum. Rather it has a tiny all year round population of 100 and it has a small grammar school. The children are able to attend until the 7th grade at which time they must leave the island. To live on such a remote island is to have to live with the elements, principally the vagaries of the sea. For example, church services are held only every other Sunday and the dental clinic is open three times a year!
As we walked around this idyllically peaceful place it was hard to avoid the memory of past conflicts as cannons and batteries were virtually everywhere along the sea. The conflicts date back to the middle of the 17th century. Denmark had effectively given up all its possessions this far east in the Baltic to Sweden. However, shortly after 1658 a successful rebellion against Sweden took place on Bornholm and spread here. Denmark once again took control of these islands and used Christianso as its eyes and ears in the eastern part of its empire. A considerable amount of military building was undertaken and in the years 1670-99 there were 450 soldiers stationed on these two islands. Most of the present military buildings date from the 1770’s.
Today all is quiet and peaceful. The main industry is fishing and it appears to be thriving. The principle fish are cod, salmon and herring. During the summer months tourism takes hold and the island has many ferries daily from Bornholm. The variety of flowers and trees that grow here is quite considerable and the island has a diverse habitat with marshes, swamps, fresh water ponds and sunny open fields. In the depressions where the wind cannot reach grows willow, poplar, maple elm, ash and hornbeam in profusion. I noticed an abundanceof wild roses growing everywhere and some enterprising gardener had planted an enormous bed of hollyhock and a large fig growing against a rock wall. We lingered in this beautiful place where nature is allowed to flourish until noon. We returned to the Sea Cloud II refreshed and grateful for having spent a few hours here. Our last destination on a wonderful journey which will linger in our memory.
