Jon's Chapel

Jon's Chapel on Bornholm

Jon's Chapel is a cave - also called a dry oven - in the free-standing rock Jon's Church. Jon's Chapel was formed by the waves hitting the rock and you will find Jon's Chapel close to the former inn Gines Minde on Bornholm's west coast, north of Hasle.

The story of Jon's Chapel

According to legend, Jon came to Bornholm to convert the people of Bornholm to Christianity. He settled in the cave, which is now known as "Jon's Church". The people of Bornholm were curious to see who this Jon was, and so they went down to greet him.

Jon warmly welcomed the people of Bornholm and told them stories from the Bible. The people of Bornholm liked what they heard, and more people soon came. Eventually there were so many that there was not enough room in the small cave, and they moved outside. So that everyone could hear Jon, he preached from the rock by Jon's Chapel, which looks like a pulpit.

Dry ovens at Jons Kapel on Bornholm

"Jons Kirken" is, together with other rock caves further south, so-called dry ovens that arose during a period when the sea level was somewhat higher than today. The stairs down to the beach at Jons Kapel are laid in a former diabase passage and have a lot of steps. There is some doubt about how many steps there are. Some have counted them at 108, others 168 and 172. Try counting for yourself!