Eriksholm Castle
Encyclopedia
Eriksholm Castle is a manor house
located at the foot of the Isefjord
inlet, 6 km south-east of Holbæk
, in east Denmark
. The history of the estate dates back to 1400 but today's house was built in 1788. It was designed by Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
, the leading Danish architect of the time.
In 1682 the estate was acquired by Admiral Niels Juel
in exchange for Sæbygaard. He owned it until his death in 1697 and after that it remained in the posession of his decendents until 1752 when it was sold to Supreme Court
justice Hans Diderik de Brinck-Seidelin. His son, who was also named Hans Diderik de Brinck-Seidelin and inhereted Eriksholm in 1778, commisioned the architect Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
to design a new main building which was completed in 1788.
Brinck-Seidelin was hit by the financially difficult times for the large land owners and Eriksholm was in 1824 sold on public auction to Prime Minister Frederik Julius Falkenskiold Kaas (1758 –1827).
In 1878, Frederik Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (1817-1889) bought Eriksholm and immediately passed it on to his son, later Minister of Foreign Affairs William Ahlefeldt-Laurvig. The estate has been in the possession of the Ahlefeldt-Laurvig family ever since.
style, Eriksholm is built in white-washed brick and consists of three wings under a black-glazed tile roof. The semicircular buildings which connect the main wings to the lower and short lateral wings are typical of the contemporary English Palladianism
. The window frames and portals are made of sandstone from Bornholm
.
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
located at the foot of the Isefjord
Isefjord
The Isefjord, Danish Isefjorden, is a deeply branched arm of the sea into the Danish island Zealand.From its relatively narrow entrance from the Kattegat at Hundested and Rørvig, branches of the Isefjord stretch 35 km inland and divide the northern part of Zealand into the peninsulas of...
inlet, 6 km south-east of Holbæk
Holbæk
Holbæk is a town in Denmark and the seat of Holbæk municipality with a population of 27,055 . The city is located in the northeastern part of Region Sjælland, Denmark....
, in east Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. The history of the estate dates back to 1400 but today's house was built in 1788. It was designed by Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff, also known as C.F. Harsdorff, , Danish neoclassical architect is considered to be Denmark’s leading architect in the late 18th century, and is referred to as “The Father of Danish Classicism”.- Early life and training :He was born Caspar Frederik Harsdørffer in...
, the leading Danish architect of the time.
History
The estate traces its history back to 1400 when it was owned by Peder Jensen and known as Vinderup. It was crown land from 1536 to 1556 and again from 1573 to 1585. In the year 1600 it was acquired by Erik Madsen Vasspyd who constructed a new main building and named it Eriksholm.In 1682 the estate was acquired by Admiral Niels Juel
Niels Juel
Niels Juel was a Dano–Norwegian admiral. He was the brother of the diplomat Jens Juel.-Biography:Niels Juel was born the son of Erik Juel and Sophie Clausdatter Sehested, both were descendant of Danish nobility, who lived in Jutland where the father had a career as a local functionary and judge...
in exchange for Sæbygaard. He owned it until his death in 1697 and after that it remained in the posession of his decendents until 1752 when it was sold to Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Denmark
The Supreme Court of Denmark is the supreme court and the third and final instance in all civil and criminal cases in Denmark. It is based at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen which also houses the Danish Parliament.-History:...
justice Hans Diderik de Brinck-Seidelin. His son, who was also named Hans Diderik de Brinck-Seidelin and inhereted Eriksholm in 1778, commisioned the architect Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff
Caspar Frederik Harsdorff, also known as C.F. Harsdorff, , Danish neoclassical architect is considered to be Denmark’s leading architect in the late 18th century, and is referred to as “The Father of Danish Classicism”.- Early life and training :He was born Caspar Frederik Harsdørffer in...
to design a new main building which was completed in 1788.
Brinck-Seidelin was hit by the financially difficult times for the large land owners and Eriksholm was in 1824 sold on public auction to Prime Minister Frederik Julius Falkenskiold Kaas (1758 –1827).
In 1878, Frederik Ahlefeldt-Laurvig (1817-1889) bought Eriksholm and immediately passed it on to his son, later Minister of Foreign Affairs William Ahlefeldt-Laurvig. The estate has been in the possession of the Ahlefeldt-Laurvig family ever since.
Architecture
Designed in the NeoclassicalNeoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style, Eriksholm is built in white-washed brick and consists of three wings under a black-glazed tile roof. The semicircular buildings which connect the main wings to the lower and short lateral wings are typical of the contemporary English Palladianism
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
. The window frames and portals are made of sandstone from Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
.