Kalo Castle Ruins

Kalo was built in 1313 by Erik Menved to hold down a rebellious Jutland, on a small islet in the bay with a cobbled causeway five hundred metres long running out to it, which was and is the only approach. The causeway is medieval and still in use, which makes the walk out the best part of a visit: water on both sides, birds on the shallows, and the ruin ahead. What remains is the great tower standing to a good height, curtain walls and outworks, in a grassy enclosure open at all hours and free. Gustav Vasa, later king of Sweden, was held prisoner here before escaping. The surrounding Molslaboratoriet land is a large rewilding project with grazing horses and cattle.

History

The name probably means "calf island", either because cattle were sent there or because the islet lies beside the mainland like a calf beside a cow. King Erik Menved built the castle in 1313 as one of at least four Jutland strongholds meant to break the rebellions of the Jutland nobility and peasants, raised by forced peasant labour on the islet, which a cobbled embankment 500 metres long joined to the mainland. It served its purpose, but in 1320 the nobility forced the new king, Christoffer II, to agree to tear it down along with most of the crown's Jutland fortresses; from the 15th century Kalø was a local administrative centre and state prison, and Christian II held the future Swedish king Gustav Vasa captive here in 1518-1519, until he escaped to Lübeck disguised as a peasant. The castle decayed during the Swedish occupation of 1643-1645, lost its role after 1660, and in 1662 Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve had the ruin torn down and used the materials for his palace in Copenhagen, now Charlottenborg. Protected from the 1800s, the ruin was restored from 1903 under the architect C. M. Smidt of the National Museum, and in 2009 it became part of Mols Bjerge National Park (Wikipedia, Kalø Castle).

The main sights

• The medieval cobbled causeway - five hundred metres out to the islet.
• The great tower - the main surviving block of the royal castle.
• Tidal shallows on both sides - birds along the walk out.
• The rewilding land behind - grazing horses and cattle on the surrounding hills.

When to go

April to October for comfortable walking; the site is open at all hours year round and free. Two hours including the causeway both ways. Low light in the evening across the bay is the best time.

Things to know

The causeway is uneven cobble and awkward underfoot, and it can be wet in high water and onshore wind. There is no shelter on the islet. Interpretation is limited to a few panels. Parking fills on summer weekends.

Nearby

Mols Bjerge National Park is south; Ebeltoft lies east on the coast.

Key facts