Clan Rising
Spøttrup Borg today

Denmark · Restored

Spøttrup Borg

Spøttrup Castle is a well-preserved late medieval defensive brick castle on the eastern shore of a small lake in Jutland, Denmark. Built in the early 16th century, it consists of multiple rectangular brick wings around a central courtyard, protected by earthwork ramparts and a double moat and now operated as a museum.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1520

Its prime

1530

Today

Restored

As it stood in 1530

What Spøttrup Borg looked like in its prime.

A compact, blocky complex of red-brown brick wings with steep orange clay-tile gabled roofs forming a rectangular courtyard; a tall gabled gatehouse pierces the waterside façade with a large arched entrance and a wooden bridge across the moat. The masonry shows regular courses of brick with narrow slit windows and a few larger arched openings (some later walled up). The castle sits at the edge of a shallow lake, surrounded by grassy earthwork ramparts and a double moat, complete and roofed.

Its story

The story of Spøttrup Borg.

Spøttrup Borg stands on the eastern shore of a small lake just east of the Limfjord in Jutland, 18 kilometres north-west of Skive. Built in the early 16th century, it is one of Denmark's best-preserved medieval defensive castles: rectangular brick wings around a central courtyard, ringed by earthwork ramparts and a double moat.

The castle became Crown property in 1536 and was sold to Henrik Below (1540–1606), a nobleman at the Danish court, who fitted it out as a stately family home with towers and a ballroom. In 1702 Axel Rosenkrantz acquired the by-then dilapidated property and renovated it.

In 1784 Peder Nissen, a rich farmer from Ribe, bought the castle, leaving it to his 17-year-old son Nis Nissen when he died four years later. It now operates as a museum.

Step inside

10 places to explore in 1530.

The record describes 10 distinct spots at Spøttrup Borg, including 2 interiors: ballroom (upper-floor interior), cellar with cross vaults. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the bridge and moatGatehouse entrance (exterior)Moat and earthwork rampartsSouth wing (exterior façade)East wing (exterior façade)North wing (exterior façade)Inner courtyardBallroom (upper-floor interior)Cellar with cross vaultsTower and roofline

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Whose castle

Clans who held Spøttrup Borg.

The families that held Spøttrup Borg for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Below

    Sold by the Crown to Henrik Below (1540–1606), who fitted it out as a stately family home.

  • Rosenkrantz

    Axel Rosenkrantz acquired the dilapidated property in 1702 and renovated it.

Questions about Spøttrup Borg

What is the history of Spøttrup Borg?

Spøttrup Borg was built in the early 16th century as a fortified defensive castle. It stood behind a later-drained lake and was protected by two moats and a high earthwork rampart. After the Reformation it lost importance as a fort, became a more comfortable family home under Henrik Below, fell into disrepair, and was restored after a 1937 fire before opening as a museum in 1941.

What is inside Spøttrup Borg?

Inside Spøttrup Borg are a ballroom and a cellar with cross vaults supported by pillars. The ballroom was created when Henrik Below fitted the castle out as a stately family home, and the cellar is described as the oldest part of the building. The courtyard and the castle’s three wings are also part of the surviving layout.

Why was Spøttrup Borg built, and what was it used for?

Spøttrup Borg was built as a fortified defensive castle to protect valuable church property in unsettled times. Its position behind a lake, earthwork ramparts and double moat helped defend it from cannon fire. After the Reformation it became less important as a fort, was adapted as a family home, and has operated as a museum since 1941.

Does anyone live at Spøttrup Borg now?

No residential occupants are identified for Spøttrup Borg today; it operates as a museum. The building opened to the public as a museum in 1941, following restoration after the 1937 fire. Its earlier use included a stately family home under Henrik Below.

Where is Spøttrup Borg?

Spøttrup Borg is on the eastern shore of Spøttrup Lake in Jutland, 18 kilometres north-west of Skive. It stands just east of the Limfjord and about 2 kilometres west of the village of Rødding. Administratively, it is in Skive Municipality.

When was Spøttrup Borg built?

Spøttrup Borg was built in the early 16th century, with the site record giving 1520 as its first-raised year. The oldest section, the south wing, was constructed around 1521, while the east and north wings followed between 1525 and 1530. The dates place its construction firmly in the 16th century.

Was Spøttrup Borg ever attacked or besieged?

Spøttrup Borg was attacked by Skipper Clement during the Count’s Feud. The north-western corner burned during the assault. When it was rebuilt, the gables were moved about 6.5 metres back from their original position; the supplied material does not state that the castle fell or give a precise year for the attack.

Which family or clan held Spøttrup Borg?

The Below family held Spøttrup Borg after it was sold by the Crown to Henrik Below, who fitted it out as a stately family home. Axel Rosenkrantz later acquired the dilapidated property in 1702 and renovated it. The Rosenkrantz family continued ownership through his son Mogens Rosenkrantz until 1776.

What did Spøttrup Borg look like in its prime?

In its prime, Spøttrup Borg was a compact, blocky complex of red-brown brick wings arranged around a rectangular courtyard. It had steep orange clay-tile gabled roofs and a tall gabled gatehouse with a large arched entrance. Narrow slit windows, earthwork ramparts and a double moat reinforced its Gothic defensive appearance.

Is Spøttrup Borg still standing, or is it a ruin?

Spøttrup Borg is still standing and has been restored rather than left as a ruin. It survives as a complete, roofed complex of brick wings around a courtyard, with its ramparts and double moat. Restoration followed a fire in 1937, and work was completed in 1941; the ramparts, moats and parts of the building were reconstructed or returned towards their earlier appearance.

Can you visit Spøttrup Borg?

Yes, Spøttrup Borg can be visited as a museum open to the public. The building opened as a museum on 15 June 1941, and the castle museum is open to visitors from mid-April to the end of October. It is also a monument on the Kulturstyrelsen register.

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