ROSENHOLM CASTLE (ROSENHOLM SLOT)

Built between 1559 and 1567, this red brick castle is surrounded by a moat and a park with a beautiful formal garden and a pavilion (the Holger tower). The entrance is at the back of the castle. When entering the courtyard, the eye is surprised by the asymmetry of the two wings facing each other. The castle has belonged since its construction to one of the great Danish aristocratic families, the Rosenkrantz family, the same one mentioned by Shakespeare in Hamlet. The present Baron Rosenkrantz represents the 17th generation. The name has been part of Danish political history since the 14th century and is probably derived from the coat of arms representing a crown of roses or a rosary.

Despite its fortress-like appearance due to the presence of the moat, the castle is not a fortress. Quite different from other castles of the same period, it is more like a pleasure castle. It was inspired by Italian models and had a loggia on the main façade. The interior was greatly modified in the 18th century. Nevertheless, in the rooms open to the public, one can appreciate some Flemish and French tapestries, Spanish and Arabic furniture, and paintings, including many portraits of family members.

In 2017, the former apartment and studio of Arild Rosenkrantz (1870-1964), a painter close to the symbolists, was transformed into an art gallery, where each year an exhibition with a different theme is presented.