Valdemars Castle

Christian IV had Valdemars Slot built between 1639 and 1644 for his son Valdemar Christian, who was killed before he could occupy it, and in 1678 the state gave it to the naval hero Niels Juel in recognition of his victory at Koge Bay; his descendants have held it since. The main house is a long baroque block with two pavilions, and the interior is shown as a lived-in family house rather than a museum set, with portraits, furniture and a chapel. Outbuildings hold a yachting museum and a hunting and trophy collection. The grounds run down to the water with woodland walks, and there is a beach below the house. Tasinge itself is a quiet farming island joined to Funen by a bridge.

History

King Christian IV commissioned Valdemar's Castle, built between 1639 and 1644 to plans by the architect Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger, not as a fortification but as a large manor house on Tåsinge, an island that belonged to his mother-in-law Ellen Marsvin. It was meant as the home of his son Valdemar Christian (1622-1656), whose mother was Kirstine Munk, but he never lived in it and was killed in battle in Poland in 1656. In 1678 the naval hero Admiral Niels Juel was given the castle and its land on Tåsinge as payment for the Swedish ships captured at the Battle of Køge, and his descendants still own it (Wikipedia, Valdemar's Castle).

The main sights

• A baroque block with pavilions - the house Christian IV built for his son.
• Family interiors - rooms shown as lived in, with portraits and furniture.
• The yachting museum - the outbuilding collection on Danish sailing.
• Grounds down to the water - woodland walks and a beach below.

When to go

May to September; the house has limited opening outside the summer. Two to three hours. Weekends are busier. The beach below is used by locals through the warm months.

Before you go

Opening is seasonal and hours are limited even in summer. Some rooms are closed as the family lives here. The ticket covers a fair amount but the extra collections vary in quality. Public transport to Tasinge is thin.

Nearby

Svendborg is across the bridge; Langeland lies south over another bridge.

Key facts