{{Short description|Manor house in Denmark}} {{Infobox building | name = Corselitze | native_name = | image = Corselitze - herregård.JPG | image_alt = | caption = Corselitze Manor House, Falster | former_names = | alternate_names = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = | building_type = | architectural_style = [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] | structural_system = | cost = | location = [[Guldborgsund Municipality]] | client = [[Johan Frederik Classen]] | owner = | current_tenants = | landlord = | location_country = [[Denmark]] | coordinates = {{coord|54|46|3|N|12|1|15|E|display=inline}} | altitude = | construction_start_date = 1775 | completion_date = 1777 | inauguration_date = | demolished_date = | height = | diameter = | other_dimensions = | floor_count = | floor_area = | main_contractor = | architect = [[Andreas Kirkerup]] | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | awards = | url = | references = }} '''Corselitze''', or '''Korselitse''', is a manor house on the island of [[Falster]] in the south-east of [[Denmark]]. The [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] house was built in 1777 by [[Johan Frederik Classen]], who at the time of his death founded [[Det Classenske Fideicommis]], which owns the estate today.
==History== ===Early history=== ''Corselitze'' derives from [[Sorbian languages|Wendish]] and means 'settlement of Chotel's heirs'.<ref name=Gyldendal>{{cite web|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Danske_slotte_og_herreg%C3%A5rde/Corselitze|title=Corselitze|language=Danish|publisher=Gyldendal|accessdate=2011-11-21}}</ref> The estate shares much of its early history with the island of Falster. Like most of the island, it belonged to the Crown in the 13th century and is mentioned in King [[Valdemar II of Denmark|Valdemar II]]'s [[Danish Census Book]] which dates from about 1231. In 1354 Corselitze was acquired by Jens Falster, a member of the local nobility, and it remained in the possession of his family until 1600 when it was sold to {{Interlanguage link|Axel Brahe|da|Axel Ottesen Brahe}}.
A few years later, in 1603, it was reacquired by the Crown in exchange for Eskebjerg on [[Funen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Dansk_Biografisk_Leksikon/Samfund,_jura_og_politik/Myndigheder_og_politisk_styre/Rigsr%C3%A5d/Axel_Brahe|title=Axel Brahe|language=Danish|publisher=Gyldendal|accessdate=2011-11-21}}</ref> Between 1560 and 1650 the entire island of Falster once again came under the Crown through such transactions.
Initially it was used as a [[Life estate|livgeding]], a Danish term for land put at the disposal of the dowager queen for her support (a [[dower]] estate), but in 1718 it was converted into a [[Rytterskoler|cavalry district]].
===Classen and his trust=== [[Image:Johan Frederik Classen.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Johan Frederik Classen]] The cavalry district was dissolved in 1766 and split up into ten manors which were sold by auction.<ref name=Kulturarvsstyrelsen>{{cite web|url=http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/da_DK/corselitze|title=Corselitze|language=Danish|publisher=Kulturarvsstyrelsen|accessdate=2011-11-21}}</ref> [[Prince Charles of Hesse-Kassel]] bought Corselitze and nearby Carlsfelt, probably acting as a [[straw man]] for his friend and colleague [[Major general|Major General]] [[Johan Frederik Classen]] who took over the properties two years later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitlolland-falster.com/danmark/da-dk/menu/turist/besoeg-omraadet/stubbekoebing/stubbekoebings-historie/fra-middelalderen-og-frem-i-tiden/stubbekoebing-middelalderen-og-frem.htm#SubHeader3|title=Fra middelalderen og frem|publisher=Visit Denmark|accessdate=2011-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426001110/http://www.visitlolland-falster.com/danmark/da-dk/menu/turist/besoeg-omraadet/stubbekoebing/stubbekoebings-historie/fra-middelalderen-og-frem-i-tiden/stubbekoebing-middelalderen-og-frem.htm#SubHeader3|archive-date=2012-04-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> Classen was a wealthy industrialist with close ties to the king and the political elite. He had just reacquired [[Frederiksværk]], a foundry in the north of [[Zealand]], which he had co-founded and then sold to the king in 1761.
[[Image:Øer 10 Korselitse V 1867.jpg|thumb|200px|Corselitze in 1867]] After Classen's death in 1792 the property, along with the rest of his estate, was passed on to [[Det Classenske Fideicommis]], a philanthropic trust which he created and still owns today. In 1947 the trust also acquired [[Fuglsang Manor|Fuglsang]] and Priorskov on the neighbouring island of [[Lolland]].
==Architecture== The Corselitze seen today was built by Classen from 1775 to 1777 to the design of the architect [[Andreas Kirkerup]]. It is an adaption of the old house which dated from the 17th century. Built in the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] style, it consists of two floors under a black tile roof. The front is nine bays long and decorated with pilasters. The fine interiors with decorations by the sculptor [[Johannes Wiedewelt]] have partly been preserved.<ref name=Gyldendal/>
==Surroundings== Classen also founded an English-style [[landscape garden]] with orchards, a nursery and tree-lined avenues which has partly been preserved. At the edge of [[Corselitze Forest]] towards the sea, Classen also built the ''General's summerhouse'' (Danish: ''[[Generalens Lysthus]]''), a thatched cottage which is a miniature version of [[Liselund]] on the island of [[Møn]].<ref name=Kulturarvsstyrelsen/> The site also includes a farm which was designed by Vilhelm Tvede and built in 1866.<ref name=Gyldendal/>
Near the mansion lies the small fishing village of [[Hesnæs]]. It is notable for its characteristic [[Reed (plant)|reed]]-clad houses which were built after the [[1872 Baltic Sea flood]]. The harbour is home to a small fleet of fishing vessels and is popular with leisure boats throughout the summer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corselitze.dk/default.asp?Action=Menu&Item=76|title=Hesnæs Havn|language=Danish|publisher=Corselitze|accessdate=2011-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426000522/http://www.corselitze.dk/default.asp?Action=Menu&Item=76|archive-date=2012-04-26|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Corselitze today== The estate covers 2,792 hectares with Næsgård, Bjerregård, Bellinge and Herslebslund. Of these, 645 hectares are farm land.<ref name=Landbrug>{{cite web|url=http://www.corselitze.dk/default.asp?Action=Menu&Item=72|title=Landbrug|language=Danish|publisher=Classenske Fideicomis|accessdate=2011-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426000506/http://www.corselitze.dk/default.asp?Action=Menu&Item=72|archive-date=2012-04-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> With Fuglsang and Priorskov on Lolland, its holdings in the area amount to 2,600 hectares of forest and 1,700 hectares of farmland. Since 1999, the farmland has been managed directly by Det Classenske Fideicommis after previously having been leased.<ref name=Landbrug/>
==Owners== *(1231–1354) The Crown *(1354–1421) Jens Falster *(1421–1460) Laurids Falster *(1460–1500) Peder Falster *(1500–1529) Oluf Falster *(1529–1556) Peder Falster *(1556–1600) Jens Falster *(1600–1603) Axel Brahe *(1603–1766) The Crown *(1766–1792) [[Johan Frederik Classen]] *(1792–) [[Det Classenske Fideicommis]]
==See also== * [[Valnæsgård]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Corselitze }} * [http://www.corselitze.dk/ Official website]
{{Denmark castles and manor houses}} {{Falster Denmark}} {{Andreas Kirkerup}}
[[Category:Manor houses in Guldborgsund Municipality]] [[Category:Neoclassical architecture in Denmark]] [[Category:Houses completed in 1777]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Falster]] [[Category:Listed buildings and structures in Guldborgsund Municipality]] [[Category:Buildings and structures of the Classen family]] [[Category:Andreas Kirkerup buildings]] [[Category:1770s architecture in Denmark]]