Almindingen ("the common") is one of the largest forests in Denmark . It is located in the centre of the island of Bornholm . The forest covers 3,800 hectares (9,400 acres), making it Denmark's third largest. Though it was at one time common grazing land for cattle, it was fenced in for forestry in 1809 by Hans Rømer, the forest supervisor. As a result, by the beginning of the 20th century, Bornholm had become Denmark's most forested region.
19-610: Bornholm's highest point is Rytterknægten at 162 metres (531 ft), where there is a memorial to Frederick VII of Denmark and Countess Danner's visit to the island in 1851. In 2012, the Nature Agency brought seven European bison from a Polish primeval forest to a 200 acres (81 ha) paddock in Almindingen, marking the first time in 2,500 years that Europe's heaviest land-living mammals were in Denmark. There are
38-481: A flat stone such as the one close to the car park. It is thought the stone might be behind the name of the location. Bornholm has both varied natural features, such as Almindingen , Hammeren , Jons Kapel , Paradisbakkerne , and Dueodde . Rytterknægten in the Almindingen forest is not far from Ekkodalen ("echo valley") to the east and the Gamleborg castle (Viking fortress) to the southwest. The memorial tower
57-436: A map was in 1746 when someone added EC before Kodalen changing it to Eckodalen. Others argue that it was Bornholm's first forester, Hans Rømer, who found the name. The steep cliffs on one side of Ekkodalen are called Styrtebakkerne. The name was originally Stortebakkene, an old Bornholm term for a ridge with a steep, vertical rock face. In Ekkodalen there are memorials to Bornholm philanthropist Marie Kofoed and to Hans Rømer,
76-411: A number of walking paths through Almindingen such as the ones leading to Ekkodal and Gamleborg . Almindingen's habitat has been described as a "green oasis" or a " Disneyland for nature lovers". The geographical features include many small valleys and a large rift valley Ekkodalen ("echo valley"), with steep rocky cliffs, two large marshy areas, several bogs and fens, with stretches of open heath to
95-401: Is Denmark's longest rift. It stretches 12 km from Vallensgård Mose through Almindingen , Flæskedal , Kløvedal and Kelseådal to Saltuna on Bornholm's northeast coast. Echo Valley was originally named Kodalen (Cow Valley), probably because by the royal edict of 1658 the peasants had obtained rights to free grazing for their cattle there. The first time the name Ekkodalen appears on
114-408: Is on the western side of the elevated area. The entire surroundings are covered with dense forest, which has been growing and creating obstructions to the views from the tower. The royal memorial tower, Kongemindet , is located on Rytterknægten. Designed by Gottlieb Bindesbøll , it commemorates the 1851 visit of Frederick VII of Denmark and Countess Danner . The 12.6 metres (41 ft) structure
133-470: Is still the residence of the State Forester. The best echo is obtained beside Hans Christian Ørsted 's spring, about 20 meters to the left along the path at the entrance to Ekkodalen opposite Ekkodalshuset. The spring was an ancient holy well. It was thought its very clean and tasty water was curative. In the 1920s and 1930s it was also called also Ørsted's Radium Source. The source is named after
152-565: Is the highest point on the Danish island of Bornholm at 162 metres (531 ft) above sea level. The bierg is situated on a wooded bedrock of gaiter formations in the middle of Almindingen forest. Aakirkeby is located about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to the southeast. Rytterknægten can be translated literally as knight's squire. In times gone by, every knight had a squire who among other things helped him to mount his horse. Those who did not have squires found it convenient to mount from
171-494: The Bornholmers out of subjectorial reverence erected this building in the year 1855 and gave it the name Kongemindet." The tower's granite masonry is decorated with lion heads, and originally had one staircase. As the forest grew higher, obscuring the view, the tower was extended in 1899 by steel scaffolding a further 9 metres (30 ft), reaching a height at the top of 184 metres (604 ft) above sea level, which marks
190-597: The European Environment Agency in the area in Almindingen, Paradisbakkerne and Ølene are: Bornholm has both varied natural features, such as Almindingen, Hammeren , Jons Kapel , Paradisbakkerne , and Dueodde , as well as Denmark's tallest lighthouse . Places of interest in Almindingen include the ruins of Lilleborg Castle , the Kristianshøj Inn, well built forest ranger residences, the arboretum , Bolsterbjerg , Gamleborg , and to
209-406: The east, the hills of Paradisbakkerne . Towers for bird-watching are erected to view birds of prey, ducks, geese and sometimes large cranes. The Nexø-Dueodde tourist information office provides information to tourists. There are four designated walks: 55°07′26″N 14°55′30″E / 55.124°N 14.925°E / 55.124; 14.925 Rytterkn%C3%A6gten Rytterknægten
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#1732765179088228-522: The east. There are patches of the original mixed woods and oak woods. The many watch towers facilitate bird watching at close quarters. There are observation towers at Udkæret, Bastemose, Svinemose, Ølene, and Rømersvej. Many public roads, forest tracks, and paths are available, as well as some rudimentary camp sites. Though the forest is subject to commercial use, it has some areas which remain 'untouched' as woodland and grazing pastures. Older methods of management are sometimes employed where they can enhance
247-417: The fine variant has it: Ekkodalen. It is equally entitled to both names as the fresh turf in the broad meadows lining the valley is just as enticing for the cows as its remarkable echo is alluring for the joyful visitors to the forest. From time to time, a gun shot rolls through the valley. You stop and listen; a new shot - and then you realize it is the hatch to "Ørsted's Well" that energetic youths are using as
266-511: The forester. There is also one on the cliff face where a young scout, Johannes V. Andersen, died after a fall in 1947. In 1809, to the dismay of the local peasants who lost their free grazing rights, Hans Rømer built an impressive stone wall around the forest which still stands today. He served as forester in the period 1800-36, creating Almindingen, Denmark's third largest forest. He established and named Hans Christian Ørsted 's spring and he built Ekkodalen's half-timbered property, Rømersdal, which
285-731: The habitat for flora and fauna. In this conservation effort, the EU Birds Directive and the EU Habitat Directive have brought Almindingen under protection guidelines. Ølene has been declared a nature reserve and totally prohibited for visitors. Conservation orders are also in force for Ekkodalen, and the two bogs of Vallensgård and Kærgård. The Important Bird Area organization, BirdLife International , has listed both Almindingen and Rø Plantage. Conservation effort also covers recreational use, preservation of cultural relics and natural scenic locations. The fauna reported by
304-633: The highest point in Denmark, same as the Bavnehøj in Jutland. The design of the steel structure above the masonry structure is unusual in that it has two staircases - one to go up and the other to come down - which has limited the availability of space at the top of the tower. During the World War II , the Germans added a radio transmitter, reaching a further 60 metres (200 ft) in height but this
323-408: The scientist and natural philosopher Hans Christian Ørsted. In 1819, he was among the first to survey and map the geology of Bornholm. Together with researchers L. Esmarch and I.G. Forchhammer, he visited Bornholm to investigate the occurrence of coal beds and iron ore. During his stay, he became a friend of Hans Rømer. Vilhelm Bergsøe wrote in 1893: "Almindingen's most famous area is Kodalen, or, as
342-588: Was built by appreciative Bornholmers in 1856, financed entirely with Bornholmer resident donations as reverence to the King and the Danish royal house. It bears an inscription expressing the Bornholmers' thanks for the visit, stating that it would be called Kongemindet ("royal memorial"). Translated into English, the memorial text on the plaque reads: "In remembrance of his Majesty King Frederik VII's highest presence on this island from 8 till 16 August 1851 with his wife,
361-510: Was later removed. The tower has also been used for radar equipment, especially to monitor Russian movements during the Cold War . The tower is used in the spring for ornithological observations. The tower, with views over the entire island, is open to visitors free of charge during daylight hours throughout the year. [REDACTED] Media related to Rytterknægten at Wikimedia Commons Ekkodalen Ekkodalen (Echo Valley) on Bornholm
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