Rokkestenen in Paradisbakkerne

A giant boulder with a delicate balance

Rokkestenen is Bornholm’s most famous rocking stone, a glacial erratic of around 35 tons perched so precisely on a pedestal of rock that it can be nudged into motion by human hands. Standing beside it, you see how the boulder seems to hover, its weight focused on a narrow contact point hidden beneath its rounded belly. With a series of short, rhythmic pushes at the right spot, the mass of granite begins to sway almost imperceptibly at first, then with a satisfying, gentle rocking motion. This natural balancing act is the legacy of the last Ice Age. As glaciers advanced and retreated across the Baltic, they plucked, transported and finally abandoned huge blocks of stone. Rokkestenen was left here in what is now the forested heart of Paradisbakkerne, where erosion has slowly exposed the contours that allow it to move. Today it is both a geological curiosity and an irresistible invitation to test your strength and technique.

Paradisbakkerne’s wild, folded landscape

The rocking stone sits within Paradisbakkerne, a hilly, fissured landscape on eastern Bornholm shaped by ancient fault lines and glacial forces. Narrow gorges slice through the forest, while crevice valleys rise in steep walls up to several dozen metres high. The terrain alternates between rocky ridges, peat bogs, wet meadows and small, dark forest lakes where trees lean over the water. Despite its relatively modest elevation, the area feels surprisingly dramatic by Danish standards. The forest is dense and often damp, with carpets of moss and heather threading between exposed bedrock. This mosaic of habitats shelters rare beetles, bats and birds such as owls and raptors, adding a quiet sense of wilderness to the walk. The contrast between the peaceful greenery and the raw rock gives the approach to Rokkestenen a distinctive atmosphere.

Walking the forest trails to the stone

Reaching Rokkestenen is part of the experience. A waymarked path leads from the nearest parking area into the woods, heading gently up and down over roots and stone slabs. The route is short enough for most walkers, but the ground is uneven, with occasional muddier patches after rain, so sturdy footwear is useful. Waymarkers help keep you oriented as the track winds between rock outcrops and tall trees. Rokkestenen is also a waypoint on longer circular hikes through Paradisbakkerne, marked with coloured symbols. These loops link the stone with viewpoints, lakes and other rock formations, turning a quick visit into a half‑day exploration. Even when you follow the shortest route, you spend enough time under the canopy to feel immersed in the forest rather than just stopping at a roadside sight.

Legends, stories and the urge to make it move

Like many unusual stones on Bornholm, Rokkestenen has gathered its share of folklore. Local tales cast rocking stones as places of hidden power, sometimes connected with trolls, sometimes with tests of truth or strength. Standing beside the boulder, it is easy to imagine earlier generations returning again and again to see who could make the giant sway. For today’s visitors the ritual is part science experiment, part game. Children and adults search for the exact patch of rock where their effort counts, discovering that timing and technique matter more than brute force. The tiny movement of such a massive object is a memorable reminder of how natural forces placed it here in the first place. After a few shared attempts and laughter, most people step back to simply look and appreciate the improbable balance.

A protected corner of Bornholm’s nature

Paradisbakkerne has been under protection for more than a century, and Rokkestenen itself is specifically safeguarded as a geological feature. Much of the surrounding land is privately owned, but access is granted via marked paths during daylight hours to balance conservation and recreation. The absence of cars inside the forest keeps the area quiet; at most you hear wind in the treetops, birds calling and boots on the path. Simple facilities at the edge of the forest, such as an information board and seasonal restrooms, support visits without disturbing the landscape around the stone. Within the woods, you are largely on nature’s terms. That sense of being in a slightly wilder pocket of Denmark is part of Rokkestenen’s appeal: it is not just a quirky rock, but a focal point in one of Bornholm’s most characterful natural areas, where geology, stories and a peaceful forest setting come together.