In the middle of this fairytale landscape of landed estates, avenues and parks we find Glorup Manor. It was built in the 1590s as a four-winged renaissance manor, but was rebuilt in 1765. The rebuilding is actually the most notable feature of Glorup Manor.
Between green walls
The knowledgeable French landscape architect Nicolas Henri Jardin prepared a plan indicating how to transform the original moated renaissance estate, to a small elegant baroque manor with low, white-washed wings. Of the original building, only the cellars are preserved.
At the same time, one of the country's earliest romantic gardens was laid out, a so-called "Anglo-Chinese" garden. It reaches between the green walls of two mighty lime-tree avenues pointing out into the landscape from the manor. In the garden, oaks, fruit trees and exotic plants are spread in neat and regular patterns in addition to pavilions, ornamental vases and statues. Everything is connected by curving footpaths. A pond with a fountain on a small island in the middle rounds off the structure.
Andersen's favourite manor
Hans Christian Andersen often visited Glorup and even had his own room there. Over the years he spent a total of more than a year as a guest at the manor.
Today the garden and manor house are basically unchanged since the rebuilding in the mid-18th century and they are evidence of the exquisite and fine architecture and garden design of that period. As a structure, Glorup Manor is a fine example of architecture that is based on ideas from outside Denmark, but transformed into a Danish context.
Jeppe Villadsen is a freelance journalist and editor of the magazine KBH.
Glorup Manor
Photo: Steen Højer