Gavno Castle

Gavno stands on a small island in Karrebaek Fjord and began as a Dominican convent founded in 1403, rebuilt as a rococo country house in the eighteenth century and still in private family ownership. The chapel survives from the convent with medieval fittings, and the house holds a large private collection of paintings, though the interior has limited opening. What draws visitors is the garden, which is planted with an exceptionally large number of tulips, several hundred thousand bulbs in a wide range of varieties, so that the display through late April and May is the largest of its kind in Denmark, followed by roses and summer perennials. A butterfly house, a vintage fire engine collection and a play area round out a family day.

History

Gavnø and the neighbouring islands in a sheltered fjord south of Næstved were used from Viking times as bases for naval raids, and later pirates attacked Hanseatic ships from here. Under Valdemar I the island passed to the crown, which kept a fortified hunting residence on it; King Erik VI Menved mortgaged it in 1292, and it passed to the Falk family of Scania. By the early 15th century the fortress had lost its importance, and in 1398 Queen Margaret I bought the island from Lady Ida Falk, had the fortress torn down and used its materials to build a convent for Dominican nuns, St Agnes Priory, only the second Dominican nunnery in Denmark, which also housed unmarried women of rank. After the Reformation of 1536 its property passed to the crown, but the nuns were allowed to stay until at least 1556. In 1583 King Frederick II sold the priory, which was converted into a manor house with a new tower, and in 1663 the estate was acquired by Niels Trolle (Wikipedia, St. Agnes' Priory, Gavnø).

What's there

• Several hundred thousand tulips - the spring display the estate is known for.
• The medieval chapel - surviving from the Dominican convent.
• A butterfly house - tropical species under glass in the grounds.
• The island setting - the house surrounded by fjord water.

When to go

April to June, and specifically late April to mid-May for the tulips, which is the reason to come. The season runs to autumn but the garden is at its best in spring. Half a day. Weekends in tulip season are crowded.

Practical notes

Outside tulip season the garden is much less impressive and the ticket price stays high. House opening is limited and often only part of the interior. It is a commercial family attraction with the usual add-ons. Parking fills at peak weekends.

Nearby

Naestved is inland; Vordingborg lies south.