Attraction of the Month, Denmark
Bringing the history of medieval Denmark to life Located in the ruins of Vordingborg, Denmark’s largest medieval castle, the new Danish Castle Centre (Danmarks Borgcenter) explores the history of Denmark’s medieval castles, kings and epic battles. The centre, which opened two years ago, has become an immediate success with both families and history enthusiasts from all parts of Denmark and abroad. By Signe Hansen | Photos: Museum Sydøstdanmark
Located just an hour from Copenhagen, the Danish Castle Centre offers visitors a unique chance to explore the medieval history of Denmark through the ruins and constructions of the time, historic artefacts and an engaging trilingual iPad guide. The centre, which is the result of almost ten years of planning, fundraising and research, has received both top ratings and reviews in the national Danish press and impressive visitor numbers. “What began ten years ago as the dream of a small, local muse88 | Issue 85 | February 2016
um quickly gathered pace. It’s been a huge project, recreating the moats, designing the iPad guide and building the centre,” Lasse Grosby Hallqvist from the centre explains. “We have had amazing feedback – people are really positively surprised. Even our older visitors, who might initially be a bit intimidated by the iPad-based concept, end up having a great experience.” The iPad guide, which is weather resistant, can be used both indoors and out-
side, and is available in Danish, English and German. Historic constructions The first Vordingborg, a small timber fortress, was built by Valdemar the Great in the 1160s. The building became the beginning of many years of construction which culminated in the 1360s when Gåsetårnet, which is today Denmark’s only fully preserved medieval castle tower, was built and Vordingborg extended to its full magnitude with nine towers, moats and a 770-metre long outer wall. Because the king often resided at the castle, some of the most significant events in Danish history took place there. “What visitors see on the site are the ruins of the castle wall which circles the entire site and, of course, Gåsetårnet, the best-preserved medieval tower of the