Vallo Castle

Vallo is a four-winged Renaissance castle with two round towers standing in a moat, largely of the sixteenth century and rebuilt after a fire in 1893, and its history since 1737 is what makes it unusual: Queen Sophie Magdalene established it as a foundation providing homes and incomes for unmarried noblewomen, and it has continued in that role ever since, with residents living in apartments in the castle and its outbuildings. Because it is a private residence, the interior is not open, and the visit is the park: a large landscaped estate with avenues, an old orchard, a herb garden, woodland walks and a lake, laid out around the moat so that the castle is seen from many angles across water and lawn. A cafe operates in the grounds.

What you actually see

• The moated castle - four wings and two round towers reflected in water.
• The landscaped park - avenues, woodland and a lake around the moat.
• The herb and kitchen garden - restored planting in the grounds.
• A foundation still in use - the castle lived in as it was intended.

When to go

April to October for the park and the garden; the grounds are open year round but the cafe and garden have a season. Two hours. Spring for the orchard blossom and autumn for the avenues.

Honest expectations

The castle interior is closed to the public and that surprises visitors who come expecting a house tour. Residents live here, so parts of the grounds are private. There is limited interpretation. The walk from public transport is a long one.

Nearby

Koge is north; Stevns Klint lies south along the coast.