Vordingborg Castle

The origins of Vordingborg Castle date back to 1175, when King Valdemar I had it built as a strategic point for defense and as a base for military operations against the German coast. Under Valdemar II, the complex served as a springboard for expansion into the Baltic, and it was here that the Jutland legal system was reformed in 1241. The castle experienced its heyday under King Valdemar IV, who expanded it into an imposing fortress with nine towers and an 800-meter-long wall. In 1353, Queen Margrethe I was born here. The castle was also the scene of important peace treaties with the Hanseatic League in 1365 and 1435. After the Swedish Wars, large parts of the castle were dismantled to obtain material for a palace for Prince Jørgen, which was never completed and was destroyed in the 18th century. The 26-meter-high Goose Tower, which was placed under protection in 1808 as Denmark's first monument, is the only fully preserved part of the complex and has borne a golden goose on its top since 1871, which became the symbol of the city of Vordingborg.

The Vordingborg Castle ruin is located in the town of Vordingborg in the Vordingborg municipality on the island of Zealand in Denmark, at an elevation of approximately 14 meters above sea level.

Today, visitors can explore the Vordingborg Castle ruin. The site houses the Danish Castle Centre, a museum offering insights into the history of Danish castles. Ongoing excavations provide museum archaeologists with the opportunity to share current findings during guided tours.

• Nysø Manor (manor house and estate), approx. 15.3 km away
• Gavnø Castle (castle), approx. 23.5 km away
• Berritzgård Castle (castle), approx. 26.0 km away
• Fuglsang Manor (manor house and estate), approx. 32.6 km away