Vittskovle Castle

Jens Brahe began Vittskovle in 1553, when this was Danish territory, and it was finished in 1577; it is one of the best-preserved Renaissance castles in the Nordic countries - four ranges round a courtyard, brick with sandstone dressings, stepped gables, a round tower at one corner and a water-filled moat all round. It has never been substantially rebuilt, which is what makes it worth the detour. The house remains a private family home and is not open, so what a visitor gets is the approach along the avenue, the outside from the bridge and the park. Occasional garden days and events open more of it. The village church nearby holds Brahe family monuments.

History

In the late Middle Ages the estate belonged to the Archbishop of Lund. Jens Brahe built the main house as a defensive structure, completed in 1577; a tower was damaged by fire in the 18th century, Adolf Fredrik Barnekow laid out most of the park and gardens, Christian Laurentius Gernandt painted its murals in the early 19th century, and the Stjernswärd family has owned it since 1837 (Wikipedia, Vittskövle Castle).

Highlights

• Four ranges round a courtyard - brick with sandstone dressings.
• A water-filled moat - crossed by the entrance bridge.
• Stepped gables and a corner tower - the 1550s Renaissance work.
• An avenue approach - the standard view of the house.

When to go

May to September. An hour.

What to expect

The house is private and closed - this is an exterior visit. Park access can be restricted. There are no facilities on site. It suits a stop, not a day.

Nearby

Degeberga and its waterfall are close; Ahus is on the coast.

Key facts