Vemmetofte Convent
Encyclopedia
Vemmetofte Convent is a former manor house
in Faxe Municipality
south of Copenhagen
, Denmark
. It was turned into a convent
by Princess Sophia Hedwig of Denmark in 1735. Since 1975 it has provided housing available to the general public..
who owned land both in Skåneland
and on Zealand. Later it was owned by members of the aristocratic Brock family from 1464 to 1639. During this early stage of its history it was a strongly fortified house with a ring wall, double moats and draw bridges.
After that it passed through the Brahe, Rosenkrandz and Krabbe families before it was bought by Queen Consort Charlotte Amalie in 1694 as part of a larger acquisition of land in the area. She had plans to turn the property into a convent but died in 1714 before they were carried out.
, Charlotte Amalie's youngest son, who resided at Jægerspris Castle
which he had been given by his brother, Fredericj IV
, who had become king in 1699. Prince Charles immediately embarked on a major renovation and expansion of his new property which it would take nine years to complete.
When Frederick IV had Anne Sophie Reventlow
, his spouse by bigamy, crowned as his queen in 1721, it led to a breach between the two brothers, and Prince Charles and their sister, Princess Sophia Hedwig, showed their disapproaval by turning their backs on the Court in Copenhagen and taking up residence at Vemmetofte.
At Vemmetofte Manor, Charles and Sophie Hedvig maintained an extravagant household. They had a staff of 70 people surpervised by their chamberlain, Carl Adolph von Plessen, who had been a close friend of Prince Charles since their youth
for unmarried women of noble decent on her death. The princess died on 13 March 1738 and Vemmetofte Convent was founded the same year with von Plessen as its first curator. From the beginning the convent suffered from a constrained economy and only survived due to considerable subsidies from von Plessen.
The number of women it accommodated varied over the years but was generally 11. According to the charter they either had to be noblewomen or daughters of men from the three highest ranking classes.
Prince Charles' expansion and redesign from 1714 to 1721 was undertaken with the assistance of Johan Conrad Ernst
. It adapted the main building to the Baroque style
and also added a number of new estate buildings as well as a Baroque garden to the premisses.
In 1882 and 1883, the architect Theodor Zeltner carried out a rather rough renovation to a Historicist style
which resulted in an unfortunate attempt to recreate a Renaissance castle. In 1907 Acel Berg undertook another major renovation which completely changed its appearance.
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...
in Faxe Municipality
Faxe municipality
Faxe municipality is a municipality Faxe municipality is a municipality Faxe municipality is a municipality (Danish, kommune in Denmark in Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand. The municipality covers an area of 406 km² and has a population of 35,418 (2008)...
south of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, 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...
. It was turned into a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
by Princess Sophia Hedwig of Denmark in 1735. Since 1975 it has provided housing available to the general public..
Early history
The oldest known reference to Vemmetofte Manor dates back to 1320 when it was owned by Johannes Offesen, a brother-in-law of Stig Andersen HvideStig Andersen Hvide
Stig Andersen Hvide was a Danish nobleman and magnate, known as the leading man among the outlaws after the murder of King Eric V of Denmark. In Danish tradition, he is known as Marsk Stig.-Biography:...
who owned land both in Skåneland
Skåneland
Skåneland or Skånelandene are terms used in historical contexts in Scandinavia to describe the area on the southern and south-western part of the Scandinavian peninsula, which under the Treaty of Roskilde was transferred from Denmark to Sweden. It corresponds to the provinces of Blekinge,...
and on Zealand. Later it was owned by members of the aristocratic Brock family from 1464 to 1639. During this early stage of its history it was a strongly fortified house with a ring wall, double moats and draw bridges.
After that it passed through the Brahe, Rosenkrandz and Krabbe families before it was bought by Queen Consort Charlotte Amalie in 1694 as part of a larger acquisition of land in the area. She had plans to turn the property into a convent but died in 1714 before they were carried out.
Prince Charles and Princess Sophie Hedvig
The next owner was Prince Charles of DenmarkPrince Charles of Denmark
Prince Charles of Denmark was the youngest son of Christian V of Denmark and his consort Queen Charlotte Amalie, and thus a younger brother of King Frederick IV. He never married and had no children, nor did he ever engage in any political activities...
, Charlotte Amalie's youngest son, who resided at Jægerspris Castle
Jægerspris Castle
Jægerspris Castle, in Jægerspris on the Hornsherred peninsula west of Copenhagen, is a Danish manor house. It has belonged to the Danish monarchs for most of its history which dates back to the 13th century...
which he had been given by his brother, Fredericj IV
Frederick IV of Denmark
Frederick IV was the king of Denmark and Norway from 1699 until his death. Frederick was the son of King Christian V of Denmark and Norway and Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel .-Foreign affairs:...
, who had become king in 1699. Prince Charles immediately embarked on a major renovation and expansion of his new property which it would take nine years to complete.
When Frederick IV had Anne Sophie Reventlow
Anne Sophie Reventlow
Anne Sophie Reventlow was a Danish noble, royal mistress, spouse by bigamy and, later, queen consort of Denmark and Norway 1721–30, the second spouse of king Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway....
, his spouse by bigamy, crowned as his queen in 1721, it led to a breach between the two brothers, and Prince Charles and their sister, Princess Sophia Hedwig, showed their disapproaval by turning their backs on the Court in Copenhagen and taking up residence at Vemmetofte.
At Vemmetofte Manor, Charles and Sophie Hedvig maintained an extravagant household. They had a staff of 70 people surpervised by their chamberlain, Carl Adolph von Plessen, who had been a close friend of Prince Charles since their youth
The convent
When Prince Charles died in 1729, he left Vemmetofte to Sophie Hedevig who provided that the estate should be turned into a conventConvent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
for unmarried women of noble decent on her death. The princess died on 13 March 1738 and Vemmetofte Convent was founded the same year with von Plessen as its first curator. From the beginning the convent suffered from a constrained economy and only survived due to considerable subsidies from von Plessen.
The number of women it accommodated varied over the years but was generally 11. According to the charter they either had to be noblewomen or daughters of men from the three highest ranking classes.
Architecture
Vemmetofte's architecture is a result of a number of successive expansions and adaptions. The current main building was first built in 1500 and later expanded from 1600 to 1630.Prince Charles' expansion and redesign from 1714 to 1721 was undertaken with the assistance of Johan Conrad Ernst
Johan Conrad Ernst
Johan Conrad Ernst was a Danish architect and royal master builder. He was the son of Johan Adolf Ernst, a successful linen merchant who had immigrated from Nuremberg and had a luxurious residence on Amagertorv in Copenhagen....
. It adapted the main building to the Baroque style
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
and also added a number of new estate buildings as well as a Baroque garden to the premisses.
In 1882 and 1883, the architect Theodor Zeltner carried out a rather rough renovation to a Historicist style
Historicism (art)
Historicism refers to artistic styles that draw their inspiration from copying historic styles or artisans. After neo-classicism, which could itself be considered a historicist movement, the 19th century saw a new historicist phase marked by a return to a more ancient classicism, in particular in...
which resulted in an unfortunate attempt to recreate a Renaissance castle. In 1907 Acel Berg undertook another major renovation which completely changed its appearance.