Valdemars Slot

A Royal Manor Transformed into an Art Destination

Valdemars Slot stands as Denmark's largest private residence and the only former royal palace remaining in private hands. Originally commissioned by King Christian IV between 1639 and 1644, the baroque manor was designed by architect Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger as a grand family seat rather than a fortification. The king intended it as a home for his son Valdemar Christian, whose mother was Kirstine Munk. Tragically, Valdemar Christian died in battle in Poland in 1656 without ever occupying the mansion. Following damage sustained during the Danish-Swedish wars, the estate faced demolition until 1678, when King Christian XI gifted it to Admiral Niels Juel in recognition of his legendary victory at the Battle of Køge Bay—a triumph that secured Danish-Norwegian control of the Baltic Sea and earned Juel a place in Danish schoolchildren's history lessons.

The Juel Legacy and Restoration

For nearly three centuries, Valdemars Slot remained the seat of the Juel family and their descendants, the Iuel-Brockdorff clan. The estate opened to the public in 1974, allowing visitors to explore its chapel, toy museum, maritime collections, and the family's extensive big-game trophy room. In 2017, ownership passed to Louise Iuel-Brockdorff Albinus (known as Duddi) and her sister Caroline following their father's death. A family dispute forced the estate onto the open market, but Louise purchased it back in 2022 and has since devoted herself to restoring the castle and reclaiming the cultural artefacts of her childhood home. Her vision has transformed Valdemars Slot into a vibrant contemporary art venue while honouring its architectural and historical significance.

Art in Historical Rooms

Since May 2025, Valdemars Slot has operated as a museum of art in historical settings, presenting an innovative dialogue between the castle's own collection and international contemporary works. Historical portraits by Carl Gustaf Pilo and Jens Juel—celebrated Danish masters of the 18th century—are displayed alongside site-specific installations by international artists including Rong Bao, Jiří Georg Dokoupil, Hanne Lippard, and Pernille With Madsen. This curatorial approach invites visitors to explore themes of portraiture, power, and space through both historical and modern lenses. The castle's vaulted cellars house a restaurant, while a baroque pavilion-café serves refreshments near the eastern ornamental pond.

Landscape, Wildlife, and Coastal Access

Situated on the northeastern coast of Tåsinge, Valdemars Slot is surrounded by idyllic forests, meadows, and beaches that form an integral part of the visitor experience. Public footpaths wind through the estate's grounds and along the shoreline, making the journey through the landscape itself part of the cultural experience. The enclosed coastal lagoon and meadows serve as crucial breeding and resting grounds for diverse waterbirds—lapwings, redshanks, and snipes nest from April onwards, while winter brings swans, geese, and herons. Visitors may also spot white-tailed eagles, rough-legged buzzards, peregrine falcons, and short-eared owls. The estate's natural setting reflects a centuries-old tradition of Danish manor houses integrated with their surrounding landscape.

Arrival and Visitor Experience

The journey to Valdemars Slot is part of its appeal. The veteran passenger ferry M/S Helge departs regularly from Svendborg, offering a scenic 20–30 minute voyage across the waters. Visitors need not purchase a castle ticket to enjoy the eastern decorative pond, the narrow beach near the jetty, or to purchase ice cream and refreshments. The castle's interiors—filled with antique furniture, Venetian glass, 17th-century Gobelin tapestries, and curious historical details such as a toilet concealed in a window frame and Admiral Juel's sea chest adorned with engravings—reveal the refined tastes and eccentricities of its former inhabitants. The museum experience unfolds across both the castle's grand rooms and historic outbuildings, with exhibitions, performances, and cultural events activating the space throughout the summer season.