Clausholm Castle & Baroque Park

A moated Baroque manor near Hadsten, where painted ceilings, royal love stories and terraced gardens bring Denmark’s aristocratic past vividly to life.

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Clausholm Castle

Set amid gentle East Jutland countryside near Hadsten, Clausholm Castle is one of Denmark’s finest Baroque ensembles. The late‑17th‑century, three‑winged manor rises above a moat and formal avenues, with 14 painted stucco ceilings, richly panelled salons and a chapel containing one of the country’s oldest organs. In summer the castle and its terraced Baroque gardens open for guided tours, walks along canals and fountains, and seasonal events that bring royal love stories and aristocratic life vividly to life.

A brief summary to Clausholm Castle

Clausholmvej 316, Hadsten, 8370, DK
+4586491655
Visit website
Duration: 1.5 to 4 hours
Mid ranged
Mixed
Mobile reception: 4 out of 5

Local tips

Plan your visit between May and September when both the castle interiors and Baroque gardens are generally open and guided tours are most frequent.
Allow extra time for the park; the long avenues, canals and terraces reward slow exploration and are excellent for photography in soft morning or late‑day light.
Wear comfortable footwear suitable for cobblestones, stairs and natural paths, and bring a light layer as interiors and the park can feel cool even on warm days.
Check in advance for special events such as Christmas markets or cultural days, which can change access to some rooms but offer a distinctive atmosphere.
Accessibility is limited in the historic building; visitors with reduced mobility may find the park paths and lower terraces the most comfortable areas to enjoy.

Getting There

Regional train and bus from Aarhus

From central Aarhus, take a regional train toward Randers and get off at Hadsten; the journey usually takes 15–20 minutes. From Hadsten, continue by local bus or pre‑booked taxi to the Clausholm area, allowing another 15–25 minutes of travel depending on waiting times. Combined costs typically range from about 60 to 140 DKK per person one way, depending on ticket type and taxi use. Services run throughout the day, but bus frequencies can be lower on weekends and public holidays.
Car from Aarhus or Randers

Driving from Aarhus or Randers to Clausholm Castle generally takes 25–35 minutes, following main regional roads through the countryside. There is signposted parking for visitors near the estate, and parking is usually free or low‑cost, though special events can increase demand and require a short walk across uneven ground from the car park to the entrance. The final approach is on smaller rural roads that may be narrow, so extra care is advisable in poor weather or after dark.
Taxi from Hadsten

If you arrive in Hadsten by train, local taxis provide a convenient onward option to Clausholm, with typical journey times of 10–15 minutes depending on traffic and conditions. Daytime fares for the short countryside ride are often in the region of 130–220 DKK each way, with supplements possible in the evening or on weekends. Pre‑booking is recommended, especially outside commuter hours, as taxis are not always waiting at the station.

Clausholm Castle location weather suitability

Mild Temperatures
Clear Skies
Any Weather

Discover more about Clausholm Castle

Baroque grandeur in the Jutland countryside

Clausholm Castle sits in rolling farmland outside Hadsten, but its silhouette and setting are pure royal theatre. Approached along long, arrow‑straight avenues lined with trees, the cream‑coloured manor rises from a broad moat, framed by terraces, canals and clipped greenery. Built in the 1690s for powerful chancellor Conrad Reventlow, it is among Denmark’s earliest Baroque residences, conceived to impress from the very first glimpse across the water. The main building follows a strict, ceremonial symmetry typical of the period. Three wings form an open U around a cobbled courtyard, their tall windows and hipped roofs emphasising height and rhythm. Above the entrance, Reventlow’s marble bust still gazes down at arriving guests, a reminder that this was once both a working political hub and a family home anchored in privilege and power.

Interiors rich with stucco, panels and stories

Inside, Clausholm is renowned for its wealth of decorative detail. The castle preserves around 14 painted stucco ceilings, their swirling plasterwork and allegorical scenes celebrating virtues, mythology and dynastic ambition. In a country where many manor houses favour restraint, these rooms stand out for their colour and exuberance, a visual manifesto of Baroque taste. Walls are lined with carved and painted wooden panels, forming what is considered the largest concentration of such decorations in Denmark. Moving from room to room, you pass from formal reception halls to more intimate chambers, each with its own palette of gilding, textiles and creaking floorboards. The upper floor was designed for royal guests, while the chancellor’s own apartments occupied the level below, a social hierarchy written into the very plan of the house.

Royal romance and dramatic intrigue

Clausholm is inseparable from one of Denmark’s most talked‑about royal love stories. In the early 18th century, King Frederik IV became infatuated with Anna Sophie Reventlow, Conrad’s daughter. The tale that endures is dramatic: the king seizing Anna Sophie from Clausholm and later marrying her, elevating her from noblewoman to queen. Their relationship left its mark not only on the castle’s ownership but also on its atmosphere of whispered intrigues and shifting loyalties. As you explore, it is easy to imagine the tension of those years: negotiations in candlelit salons, hurried letters drafted in side rooms, and private moments behind heavy doors. The combination of intimate living quarters and grand ceremonial spaces gives the story a physical backdrop that makes courtly life feel remarkably close at hand.

A chapel, an organ and the soundscape of faith

One of Clausholm’s most distinctive spaces is its chapel, a compact but lavishly decorated room that blends spiritual purpose with aristocratic display. Here, one of Denmark’s oldest preserved organs still occupies pride of place, its pipes and casing framed by painted ornamentation and careful carpentry. Built around 1700, it once underscored baptisms, weddings and everyday services with music tailored to the family’s status. The chapel’s benches, altar and gallery work together to create a vertical drama of light and shadow. Sunlight filtering through tall windows picks out gilded details and worn wood, underlining how faith, art and politics intersected within the castle walls. Even when silent, the instrument adds an aural dimension to the visit, inviting you to imagine Baroque hymns echoing off stucco and stone.

Terraced gardens, canals and formal perspectives

Step outside and the Baroque vision continues in the landscape. Clausholm’s gardens are laid out on several levels, with terraces descending towards waterways and open lawns. Straight avenues carve through the grounds, carefully aligned to the castle’s main axis and to distant focal points, creating long, theatrical sightlines. Fountains, canals and reflecting pools add movement and mirror the sky, softening the strict geometry. In summer, when the park is open, the contrasts are particularly striking: clipped hedges and geometric beds set against the looser textures of surrounding woodland. The garden design reflects both French influence and Danish adaptation, serving historically as a stage for promenades, hunts and celebrations. Today it offers quiet corners for contemplation as well as broad vistas ideal for photography and unhurried walks.

Living heritage with a modern rhythm

Although steeped in history, Clausholm remains a lived‑in estate. The manor is still privately owned, with the family overseeing ongoing conservation of both building and park. Since the mid‑20th century, extensive restoration has modernised the infrastructure while safeguarding original materials, earning recognition for the quality of the work. The estate opens to the public mainly from May to September, when guided tours reveal layers of architecture, politics and daily life behind the façades. Seasonal events, from cultural gatherings to festive markets, occasionally animate the courtyards and lawns, weaving contemporary activity into a centuries‑old framework. For travellers in East Jutland, Clausholm offers not just a beautiful castle and garden, but a vivid window into how power, art and landscape once intertwined at the highest levels of Danish society.

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Hotel Randers

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Sven Dalsgaards Plads

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Randers St.

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Randers Railwaystation

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Historic rail gateway of Randers, linking East Jutland’s river town with Aarhus, Aalborg and Copenhagen from a compact, practical 19th‑century station hub.

Gravhøjen i Fladbro Dyrehave

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Trøjborg Beboerhus

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Nordisk Film Cinemas Trøjborg

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Folkehuset Trøjborg

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Kunst ved Kaserneboulevarden

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The Old Town

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Klostertorvet

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Our Lady Church

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Latin Quarter

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Lille Torv

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Store Torv

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Unmissable attractions to see

Genforeningssten i Ølst

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Memphis Mansion

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Vorup Dam

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Tronholmparken

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De Nordiske sten

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A vibrant hub for Danish classic and contemporary art in the architecturally distinct Kulturhuset, Randers Kunstmuseum is a must-visit for culture seekers.

Storkeengen - Randers

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Rosenholm Castle

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Monte Antico

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Den Blå Bro, Randers

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Gaia Museum Outsider Art

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Museum Østjylland - Håndværksmuseet

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Flodbyen Randers

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Museum Østjylland

11.7 km

Denmark's oldest local museum preserves 100,000 years of East Jutland heritage through free, interactive exhibitions.

Randers Stadsarkiv

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GBAR

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Clausholm Castle & Baroque Park

A brief summary to Clausholm Castle

Local tips

For the on-the-go comforts that matter to you

Getting There

Regional train and bus from Aarhus

Car from Aarhus or Randers

Taxi from Hadsten

Clausholm Castle location weather suitability

Unlock the Best of Clausholm Castle

Buy tickets

Book tours with entry

Book tours without entry

Discover more about Clausholm Castle

Baroque grandeur in the Jutland countryside

Interiors rich with stucco, panels and stories

Royal romance and dramatic intrigue

A chapel, an organ and the soundscape of faith

Terraced gardens, canals and formal perspectives

Living heritage with a modern rhythm

Iconic landmarks you can’t miss

Hotel Randers

Sven Dalsgaards Plads

Randers St.

Randers Railwaystation

Gravhøjen i Fladbro Dyrehave

Trøjborg Beboerhus

Nordisk Film Cinemas Trøjborg

Folkehuset Trøjborg

Kunst ved Kaserneboulevarden

The Old Town

Klostertorvet

Our Lady Church

Latin Quarter

Lille Torv

Store Torv

Unmissable attractions to see

Genforeningssten i Ølst

Memphis Mansion

Vorup Dam

Tronholmparken

De Nordiske sten

Storkeengen - Randers

Rosenholm Castle

Mindesten for Danmarks Veteraner

Monte Antico

Den Blå Bro, Randers

Gaia Museum Outsider Art

Museum Østjylland - Håndværksmuseet

Flodbyen Randers

Museum Østjylland

Randers Stadsarkiv

Essential places to dine

Cocco Bello

Restaurant NOK Grill & Grønt

Bone's Randers

Hos Anne Marie

Restaurant Dragon City

Restaurant Tronborg

Fiskerestaurant Pakhuset

Restaurant Sejlklubben

Pincho Nation

Joci Sushi

The Cabin

Garage Burgerbar Randers

Cafe Konrad

Restaurant Mad Og Vin

Café K

Markets, malls and hidden boutiques

Randers Storcenter

Miomio

AXEL W. NIELSEN A/S

Aaskov Modetøj Randers

Skriver Collection Showroom

CC: CHRISTENSEN Randers

Retail ApS

Uldfisken

Wunderwear Randers

Søsterne Grene Randers

Mr Randers City