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Vordingborg Castle today

Denmark · Ruin

Vordingborg Castle

Vordingborg Slotsruin

Vordingborg Castle is a medieval Danish fortress whose ruins lie in the town of Vordingborg. Built from the late 12th century and much enlarged by the 14th century, most of the complex has been demolished, but the round brick Goose Tower (Gåsetårnet) survives as the site's best-preserved structure and symbol of the town.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1175

Its prime

1360

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1360

What Vordingborg Castle looked like in its prime.

A massive circular red-brick keep rising from a low grassy mound, its cylindrical shaft pierced by narrow vertical arrow-slits and small windows and decorated with repeating dark-brick diamond patterns; a crenellated parapet crowns the wall head and above this a steep conical metal-clad spire rises to a finial. The tower stands beside long stretches of fourteenth-century brick curtain wall and a defended bailey, set within a mixed park and town landscape.

Its story

The story of Vordingborg Castle.

Vordingborg Castle was built from the late 12th century and much enlarged by the 14th, growing into a substantial medieval fortress in the town of Vordingborg. Most of the complex was later demolished, and a palace built on the site fared no better, the prince it was intended for never took up residence, and it too was pulled down in the 18th century.

Of the medieval fortress, the round brick Goose Tower, Gåsetårnet, survives as the best-preserved structure on the site and the symbol of the town. The castle ruins are today Vordingborg's most famous attraction.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1360.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Vordingborg Castle, including the full exterior approach. 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 from the south grassy slopeBase entrance at the towerCurtain wall and inner baileyBattlement walk and crenellationsTower parapet and conical roofView from the tower over the town and surrounding countryside

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A strategy game played on Vordingborg Castle’s real ground plan: the same surveyed walls shown in the archive below. Post your finite garrison on the battlements between assaults, then hold out as rams, siege towers, trebuchets and sappers arrive in ever-worse waves.

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From the archive

Vordingborg Castle on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Vordingborg, Vordingborg Castle

Vordingborg

· National Gallery of Denmark (via Europeana)

Public domain

Gaasetaarnet, Vordingborg, Vordingborg Castle

Gaasetaarnet, Vordingborg

1841 · National Gallery of Denmark (via Europeana)

Public domain

Questions about Vordingborg Castle

What is the history of Vordingborg Castle?

Vordingborg Castle began as a defensive fortress in the late 12th century and became a substantial medieval stronghold by the 14th century. It was expanded to nine towers and an 800-metre defensive wall under Valdemar Atterdag. After the Swedish wars, much of it was demolished for a palace, which was itself pulled down in the 18th century.

Why was Vordingborg Castle built, and what was it used for?

Vordingborg Castle was built as a defensive fortress and a base for raids against the German coast. It later supported Danish expansion into the Baltic and served as a royal stronghold. After its military importance declined, a palace was built on the site for Prince George, but he never took up residence.

Where is Vordingborg Castle?

Vordingborg Castle is in the town of Vordingborg on South Zealand, Denmark. The ruins lie within Vordingborg Municipality. The castle stands in the town landscape, with the former island or peninsula of Oringe opposite it.

When was Vordingborg Castle built?

Vordingborg Castle was first raised in 1175, in the late 12th century. The fortress was enlarged in later phases, with its most substantial expansion taking place in the 14th century. The site record gives 1360 as its prime year.

Was Vordingborg Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Vordingborg Castle was taken by the Swedish army during the Second Karl Gustav War in 1658–60. The garrison had withdrawn to Copenhagen, so the Swedish forces occupied the castle without a fight. After the war, the castle was so damaged that it was demolished.

What did Vordingborg Castle look like in its prime?

At its height, Vordingborg Castle had a massive circular red-brick keep on a grassy mound, with narrow arrow-slits, small windows and dark-brick diamond patterns. A crenellated parapet and steep conical roof crowned the tower. Fourteenth-century brick curtain walls enclosed the defended bailey.

Is Vordingborg Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Vordingborg Castle is now a ruin, although parts of its fourteenth-century curtain walls remain. The round brick Goose Tower is the only fully preserved part of the medieval castle and survives as its best-preserved structure. Most of the complex was demolished, and the later palace was demolished in the 18th century.

Who built Vordingborg Castle?

Vordingborg Castle was commissioned by Valdemar I of Denmark, who built it in 1175 as a defensive fortress. No architect is identified in the supplied material. Later enlargement, especially in the 14th century, changed the scale of the fortress.

Who owns Vordingborg Castle now?

Vordingborg Castle is owned by Valdemar I of Denmark. It is also designated a protected ancient monument in Denmark. The supplied material does not identify a current operator.

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