Spottrup Castle

Spottrup is the best preserved late-medieval castle in Denmark, built for the bishops of Viborg in the 1520s and little altered since, which is unusual: most Danish castles of this date were rebuilt as comfortable Renaissance houses, and this one was not. It is a compact brick block of three wings around a small courtyard, with walls up to two metres thick, small windows, gun loops, and two rings of moat with a rampart between them, so the whole thing reads as a defensive building rather than a residence. The interiors are shown sparsely furnished, with the great hall, chapel, kitchens and cellars, and the emphasis is on how the building worked rather than on decorative display. A herb garden of medieval plants is laid out in the outer bailey.

History

The estate passed to the diocese of Viborg in 1404, and the oldest part of the present building, the south wing, was built around 1521, with the east and north wings following in 1525-1530; the western end of the north wing was wrecked by a tidal wave in 1534. The large arched windows were walled up to leave only narrow sighting slits, and the ramparts and double moat were meant to protect the castle against cannon fire. The crown took the estate in 1536 and sold it to the courtier Henrik Below, who made it a family home with towers and a ballroom, but it later stood empty for a long time, until Axel Rosenkrantz bought the dilapidated property in 1702 and renovated it. A rich farmer from Ribe, Peder Nissen, bought it in 1784, and after 1849 a series of owners could not afford the repairs it needed. After a fire in 1937 the state bought the castle and its estate of 338 ha, and it opened as a museum on 15 June 1941 after restoration (Wikipedia, Spøttrup Castle).

What to look for

• Two-metre brick walls - a genuinely defensive late-medieval house.
• Double moats and rampart - two rings of water with a bank between.
• Sparse original interiors - rooms shown as they worked, not as display.
• A medieval herb garden - period planting in the outer bailey.

When to go

April to October; winter opening is limited to events. Two hours. Summer brings medieval markets and living history days. Weekdays are quiet.

Good to know

Furnishing is minimal, so the interiors can feel empty to visitors expecting a stately home. Interpretation is largely in Danish. It is remote and needs a car. Winter opening is very limited.

Nearby

Skive is east; Hjerl Hede open-air museum lies south.

Key facts