Lundestenen Jættestue

Ancient tomb in the Bornholm countryside

Lundestenen Jættestue sits quietly in open farmland just outside the small town of Aakirkeby, right in the rural heart of Bornholm. From a distance it looks like a low grassy mound on the horizon, but as you approach you start to notice the ring of large stones around the base and the huge slabs set as a roof. This is one of the island’s largest Stone Age passage graves, built by farming communities more than five millennia ago. The tomb is located off Hovedgårdsvejen, surrounded by cultivated fields and hedgerows. There is no grand visitor center or elaborate infrastructure, only a simple path over the field and the mound itself. That stripped-back setting is part of the appeal: the monument feels embedded in everyday agricultural life, much as it would have been when it was first constructed.

Architecture of a Stone Age passage grave

Lundestenen belongs to a group of megalithic tombs known in Danish as jættestuer, or “giants’ chambers”, characterised by a long, low entrance passage leading into a stone-built burial room. Here, upright boulders form the walls of the chamber, carefully fitted together and topped by enormous capstones that have held their place for thousands of years. The mound of earth covering the stones softens the outline, but up close the engineering is unmistakable. The passage is typically low and narrow, meaning adults have to crouch or crawl for the last stretch. Inside, the chamber opens up just enough to stand in the middle. Light filters in only faintly from the entrance, so your eyes gradually adjust to the dim space, revealing the rough texture of granite blocks and the compacted earthen floor. It is a simple construction, yet the feeling of solidity and permanence is striking.

A window into Neolithic ritual life

Lundestenen was created in the Neolithic period, when farming communities across Bornholm and the wider Baltic region were raising monumental tombs and ceremonial sites. These passage graves were typically used for communal burials over many generations, with bones and grave goods placed inside as part of recurring rituals. Although any finds from Lundestenen itself are now in museum collections, standing in the chamber helps you imagine the long continuity of ceremonies once held here. The tomb’s location on a slight rise in the landscape suggests it was intended to be visible, perhaps marking territory or acting as a focus for gatherings. Over time, local stories and folklore often attached themselves to such sites, invoking giants, hidden treasure or supernatural guardians. Even without knowing specific legends, the combination of age, craftsmanship and isolation gives the place a quiet, otherworldly charge.

Experiencing the mound up close today

Visiting Lundestenen Jættestue is a low-key yet atmospheric experience. After a short walk across relatively flat farmland, you reach the mound and can circle around to appreciate its shape and the arrangement of stones. Sheep or crops may be nearby, and the prevailing sounds are usually wind, birds and the distant hum of rural activity. There are no barriers right at the entrance, so you can inspect the passage and, if you are comfortable with confined spaces and the ground is dry, step carefully inside. The interior is cool and often a little damp, so sturdy footwear is useful. Most people spend only a brief time within the chamber, letting their eyes adjust, taking in the stonework, then emerging back into the light with a stronger sense of how ancient the landscape around Aakirkeby really is. Combined with other prehistoric sites on Bornholm, a stop here helps build a broader picture of the island as a long-settled and spiritually significant place.

Planning a thoughtful visit

Lundestenen is freely accessible at all times of year, with no entrance fee and no on-site staff. That means visitors share responsibility for looking after the monument. Staying on existing paths, avoiding climbing on the stones and leaving no litter are simple ways to help preserve the structure and the farmer’s field it sits in. Because the approach can be muddy after rain, bringing waterproof shoes or boots is sensible in shoulder seasons. Many travellers combine a brief stop at Lundestenen with time in Aakirkeby or with a wider circuit of Bornholm’s churches, coastal cliffs and forest trails. The tomb rarely feels busy, so it works particularly well as a contemplative interlude on a day of exploring. Whether you are a keen prehistory enthusiast or simply curious about how people lived here thousands of years ago, this modest mound in the fields offers a surprisingly powerful encounter with deep time.