Hjarnø is one of the 529 islands that Denmark allegedly consists of - - -
It is quite small, - only about 3 x 1 kilometers -, with only a little more than 100 permanent inhabitants, which are mainly occupied by farming, although the island earlier had distinct maritime traditions.
You will not find soft rolling hills, twisting and turning streams and deep, shady forests here.
It is quite flat, - mostly farmland -, and has apparently nothing spectacular to offer a visitor.

However, - one thing makes this small and lovely island stand out amongst the many other Danish islands: A quite big burial site from the Viking era - - -
 
 

In Denmark we often refer to a period in the Iron Age as the "Viking Age" due to our ancestors , - the Vikings -, who were very active during those days of the misty past.

That's a long time ago, but still today you can find evidence of their activities,- not only from the numerous Viking ship finds -, but also from many burial sites.

One such burial site, - one of the biggest -, is the one on the small island Hjarnoe, where you can find ship shaped stone formations indicating the various graves.
Since the stones are formed like ship hulls, we simply refer to them as "SHIPS", - and such "ships" you can find many other places all over the country.

The "Ships" on Hjarnoe are about 1000 to 1400 years old, but still a legend has survived, telling a tale about King Hjarne, who is buried here together with his men, after they all got killed in an attempt to win back the throne, in a power struggle with the son of the former King.
Another legend also claims that the island actually got its name, - Hjarnoe-, from this Viking King, - Hjarne!
This might not be the real truth, - but old tales and legends are always exiting and can really get the fantasy going.

But for now, - let us explore Hjarnoe, and take a look at my images of another kind of "ship", - made from stones -, and more than a thousand years old - - - -