Hjelm Lighthouse

Denmark, Denmark

---

Hjelm Lighthouse (Danish: Hjelm Fyr) stands on the small, uninhabited island of Hjelm in the Kattegat, about 10 km southeast of Ebeltoft, Denmark.

The lighthouse was built in 1856 and is located on the island’s highest point, making it an important navigational aid for ships traveling through the surrounding waters. The lighthouse is particularly notable for being built on the site of one of the medieval fortifications associated with Marsk Stig, the Danish nobleman who used Hjelm as a refuge after being declared an outlaw in the late 13th century.

The island played a significant role in Danish medieval history and still contains archaeological remains from that period. Today, Hjelm Lighthouse is automated and powered by solar energy. Although the island is privately owned and uninhabited, the lighthouse remains a distinctive landmark and a symbol of both Denmark’s maritime heritage and the island’s fascinating historical past.