# Egeskov Castle

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Castle in Funen, Denmark

Egeskov Castle Egeskov Slot Interactive map of the Egeskov Castle area General information Type Water castle Location Denmark Completed 1554

**Egeskov Castle** ([Danish](/source/Danish_language): *Egeskov Slot*) is located near [Kværndrup](/source/Kv%C3%A6rndrup), in the south of the island of [Funen](/source/Funen), [Denmark](/source/Denmark). The castle is [Europe](/source/Europe)'s best preserved [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance_architecture) [water castle](/source/Water_castle).

## History

Egeskov was first mentioned in 1405.[1] The castle structure was erected by Frands Brockenhuus in 1554.[2][3]

Due to the troubles caused by the civil war known as the *[Count's Feud](/source/Count's_Feud)* (Danish: *Grevens fejde*), general [civil unrest](/source/Civil_unrest), and a civil war introducing the [Protestant Reformation](/source/Protestant_Reformation), most [Danish noblemen](/source/Danish_nobility) built their homes as fortifications. The castle is constructed on [oaken](/source/Oak) [piles](/source/Deep_foundation) and located in a small lake with a maximum depth of 5 metres (16 ft). Originally, the only access was by means of a [drawbridge](/source/Drawbridge). According to legend, it took an entire forest of oak trees to build the foundation, hence the name *Egeskov* (oak forest).

The estate has belonged to the [Bille-Brahe family](/source/Bille_(noble_family)) since 1784, when they acquired it from descendants of the Brockenhuus family. In 1882 it was inherited by the counts [Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille](/source/Ahlefeldt_(noble_family)), who still own it.

## Castle architecture

Outside, the castle is a [Late Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) building. Inside the original elements already show [Renaissance](/source/Renaissance) design.

The castle consists of two long buildings connected by a thick double wall, allowing defenders to abandon one house and continue fighting from the other.[4] The double wall is over one meter thick and contains secret staircases and a [well](/source/Water_well). Defenders were able to attack an enemy's flanks from the two round corner [towers](/source/Tower). Other medieval defences include artillery ports, [scalding holes](/source/Machicolations) and [arrow slits](/source/Arrow_slit). The bricks composing the castle are of an oversized medieval type sometimes called "monks bricks". The conical towers are constructed in a series of separate panels.

The architecture includes depressed and round-arched windows, round-arched blank arcading within the [gables](/source/Gable), and a double string course between the high [cellar](/source/Basement) and the ground floor. The structure contains some of the early [indoor plumbing](/source/Domestic_water_system) design first used in Europe with vertical shafts for waste.[5] The thick double wall also contains a water well which is accessed from the servants kitchen in the east house. Several of the large rooms have massive parallel exposed beams with some end carving.[6]

## Castle contents

Contents of the castle include a massive iron chest from at least as early as the 16th century, which derived from [Hvedholm Castle](/source/Hvedholm_Castle), a property earlier owned by the Egeskov estate about twenty kilometers to the west.

Numerous oil paintings are found within the castle including a large painting in the great hall on the first floor of [Niels Juel](/source/Niels_Juel), who defeated the [Swedish](/source/Swedish_Empire) force in the [Battle of Køge Bay](/source/Battle_of_K%C3%B8ge_Bay_(1677)) in the year 1677.

## Gardens and lands

Other buildings belonging to Egeskov include *Ladegården*, a [thatched](/source/Thatched) [half-timbered](/source/Half-timbered) building which is now part of the museum. Other buildings are used by the museum and for farming. Surrounding the castle is an old park, covering 20 hectares (49 acres) of land. The park is divided into a number of gardens. The renaissance garden features [fountains](/source/Fountain), a gravel path and [topiary](/source/Topiary) figures. The [fuchsia](/source/Fuchsia) garden, one of the largest in Europe, contains 104 different species. Other gardens near the castle include an [English garden](/source/English_garden), a [water garden](/source/Water_garden), an [herb garden](/source/Herb_garden), a [vegetable garden](/source/Vegetable_garden), and a [peasant's garden](/source/Peasant) (*bondehave*). The gardens also feature four hedge [mazes](/source/Maze). The oldest is a [beech](/source/Beech) maze several hundreds of years old. This garden is trimmed every year to prevent the trees from dying. The newest maze is the world's largest [bamboo](/source/Bamboo) maze. It features a [Chinese](/source/Chinese_architecture) tower in the centre, and a bridge from the tower provides the exit from the maze. The parks feature a three-meter-tall [sundial](/source/Sundial) designed by Danish poet and mathematician, [Piet Hein](/source/Piet_Hein_(Denmark)).[7]

The land surrounding the castle also includes a number of playgrounds and children's play structures.

The estate includes an additional eight square kilometres; 2.5 square kilometres (0.97 sq mi) is forest, with the rest being farmland. In 1986, a full-sized replica of the castle was built in [Hokkaidō](/source/Hokkaid%C5%8D), [Japan](/source/Japan), to hold an [aquarium](/source/Aquarium). This was constructed with the permission of the Egeskov's owners at the time, Count Claus and Countess Louisa Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille.

## Museums

Egeskov is home to the following [museums](/source/Museum).

- A vintage automobile collection

- A vintage motorcycle collection

- A collection describing the history of agriculture

- A collection of flying vehicles

- A collection of [Falck](/source/Falck_(Denmark)) and other emergency vehicles

Most of the castle is open to the public, except for the areas used by [Count](/source/Count) [Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille](/source/Michael_Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille). The museum of [agriculture](/source/Agriculture) and the horse wagon collection is located in the building Ladegård mentioned previously.

Three large modern buildings are occupied by the vintage [automobile](/source/Automobile) collection, the vintage [motorcycle](/source/Motorcycle) collection, the [Falck](/source/Falck_(Denmark)) collection, and by a collection of [airplanes](/source/Airplane) and [helicopters](/source/Helicopter). The Falck collection is a collection of vehicles from the Danish rescue company, *Falck*, emergency vehicles such as [fire trucks](/source/Fire_apparatus), [ambulances](/source/Ambulance), [rescue boats](/source/Rescue_craft), and other assorted [emergency vehicles](/source/Emergency_vehicle).

## List of owners

From To Owner c. 1405 Lydike and Jørgen Skinkel c. 1470 Johan Sinkel 1516 Otto and Poul Skinkel 1518 1533 Laurids Skinkel 1533 1536 Hilleborg Pedersdatter Bille and her daughters Anne, Hilleborg and Rigborg 1536 1545 Anne, Hilleborg and Rigborg 1545 1569 Frands Brockenhuus 1569 1604 Laurids Brockenhuus 1604 1615 Laurids Brockenhuus's heirs 1615 1615 Hans Pogwish 1616 1630 Jacob Ulfeldt 1630 1640 The children of Jacob Ulfeldt 1640 1648 Laurids Ulfeldt 1648 1656 Oluf Parsberg 1656 1666 Otto Krag 1666 1688 Anna Rosenkrantz 1688 1713 Niels Krag the Elder 1713 1722 The widow of Niels Krag 1722 1740 Niels Krag the Younger 1740 1784 Sofie Juel 1784 1789 Henrik Bille-Brahe 1789 1810 Car. Agnese Raben 1810 1857 Preben Bille-Brahe 1857 1871 Fr. Siegfried Bille-Brahe 1871 1882 Frantz Preben Bille-Brahe 1882 1912 Jul. Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille 1912 1919 C. Jessy Bille-Brahe 1919 1946 Fr. Pr. Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille 1946 1985 Gregers and Nonni Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille 1985 1994 Claus and Louisa Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille 1994 — Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille

## Gallery

Slot Egeskov

		- Exterior view

		- Exterior view

		- Exterior view

		- Exterior view

## See also

- [Horne Church](/source/Horne_Church)

- [List of castles and palaces in Denmark](/source/List_of_castles_and_palaces_in_Denmark)

- [Medieval warfare](/source/Medieval_warfare)

- [Siegecraft](/source/Siegecraft)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Egeskov"](http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/Danske_slotte_og_herreg%C3%A5rde/Egeskov?highlight=egeskov). *Den Store Danske* (in Danish). Retrieved 18 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Egeskovs historie"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140703082155/http://www.egeskov.dk/egeskovhistorie) (in Danish). Egeskov. Archived from [the original](http://www.egeskov.dk/egeskovhistorie) on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Funen." *Encyclopædia Britannica*. 2006. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service. 30 July 2006

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Verner Rasmussen, *Egeskov*, prepared for the Egeskov Estate, 2003 reprinting

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** C.M. Hogan, Design of Egeskov Castle, Lumina Technologies, Santa Rosa. July 22, 2005

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Castle"](http://www.egeskov.dk/en/castle). Egeskov. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["All Gardens"](http://www.egeskov.dk/en/gardens). Egeskov. Retrieved 18 June 2014.

## Literature

- Lassen, Erik; Espen-Hansen, Inge (1982) [1963]. [*Egeskov: The History of the Estate : the Architecture of the Building : Egeskov Park and Gardens*](https://books.google.com/books?id=I5irSQAACAAJ). Egeskov.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Egeskov Castle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Egeskov_Slot).

- [Official homepage of Egeskov Castle](http://www.egeskov.dk)

- The glass building that serves as the entrance area of Egeskov Castle was constructed by [Drivadan](https://drivadan.dk/en/case/glass-building-main-entrance-egeskov-castle/).

[55°10′35″N 10°29′22″E / 55.17639°N 10.48944°E / 55.17639; 10.48944](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Egeskov_Castle&params=55_10_35_N_10_29_22_E_type:landmark_region:DK)

v t e Landmarks of Funen Castles and houses Anne Hvide's House Broholm Egeskov Castle Hvedholm Castle Krengerup Odense Palace Churches Diernæs Church Faaborg Church Gelsted Church Helnæs Church Horne Church St. Alban's Church Saint Hans Church St. Canute's Abbey St. Canute's Cathedral Saint Nicholas Church, Bogense Museums Brandts Museum of Photographic Art Carl Nielsen Museum Danish Railway Museum Faaborg Museum The Funen Village Funen's Art Museum Hans Christian Andersen Museum Møntergården Vestfyns Kunstmuseum See also:Odense City Museums Sport Arena Fyn Barløseborg Golfbane Oldense Golfklub Marienlystcentret Nature Energy Park Transport Faaborg Rutebilstation FynBus Great Belt Fixed Link Hans Christian Andersen Airport Little Belt Bridge Port of Faaborg Port of Odense See also: Template:Odense and Template:Funen

v t e Castles and manor houses in Denmark Capital Region Amalienborg Arresødal Bernstorff Palace Christiansborg Farumgård Fredensborg Frederiksberg Frederiksborg Jægerspris Kronborg Rosenborg Selsø Sorgenfri Svanholm West and South Zealand Borreby Bregentved Dragsholm Eriksholm Gammel Køgegård Gavnø Gisselfeld Gjorslev Gyldenholm Holsteinborg Jomfruens Egede Ledreborg Lerchenborg Knabstrup Nysø Rosenfeldt Rønnebæksholm Skjoldnæsholm Torbenfeldt Vallø Vedbygård Vemmetofte Lolland-Falster Aalholm Berritzgaard Corselitze Fuglsang Klintholm Manor Knuthenborg Krenkerup Liselund Orupgaard Pederstrup Rudbjerggaard Funen Brahetrolleborg Broholm Dallund Egeskov Glorup Hesselagergård Holckenhavn Hvedholm Hvidkilde Krengerup Lykkesholm Nyborg Rønninge Søgård Skovsbo South Jutland Augustenborg Engelsholm Gråsten Haderslevhus Nordborg Sandbjerg Schackenborg Sønderborg Castle Central Jutland Bygholm Clausholm Frijsenborg Gammel Estrup Hald Katholm Meilgaard Nørre Vosborg Rosenholm Skrøbelev Spøttrup Tjele Ulstrup North Jutland Aalborghus Børglum Dueholm Dronninglund Højrus Kongstedlund Kokkedal Odden Store Restrup Voergaard

v t e Castles in Denmark Aalborghus Aalholm Amalienborg Borreby Castle Christiansborg Palace Clausholm Castle Copenhagen Castle Dragsholm Castle Dronninglund Castle Egeskov Castle Engelsholm Castle Frederiksborg Castle Gamleborg Gammel Estrup Manor Gammel Ryomgård Gavnø Gjorslev Haderslevhus Holckenhavn Castle Hvedholm Castle Jægerspris Castle Kalø Castle Katholm Castle Koldinghus Kongsgård Kronborg Lerchenborg Lilleborg, Bornholm Liselund Lykkesholm Castle Marienlyst Castle Meilgaard Castle Nordborg Castle Nykøbing Castle Rosenborg Castle Rosenholm Castle Schackenborg Castle Sønderborg Castle Valdemar's Castle Vallø Castle Voergaard Castle Vordingborg Castle Also See: Castles in Denmark

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Egeskov Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egeskov_Castle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egeskov_Castle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.