Denemark

Kings and Lost Lakes

Posted on by Hanna

It was on a beautiful sunny day, that I went to see the ruins of Søborg Castle. Walking on these bare fields reminds me of the lake, that once was here many years ago.

The castle was one of Denmark’s largest and best fortified castles. It was built on an islet in the lake in the middle of the 11th century and was later conquered by the Viking, King Valdemar the Great.

Now the state will restore the lake: Take a peek below the post!

It might well have been here on the old lake bed of Søborg Sø that Andersen-Lundby got his inspiration for the painting: ‘Birds on the road’.

'Birds on the road', by the Danish painter Anders Andersen-Lundby

Note

The lake is to be restored over a number of years, to attract a diverse bird life and preserve the cultural-historical values around the lake. At the same time it will be an attractive place for outdoor life and reduce nutrient leaching.

The lake has been completely drained through an extended canal system since the 1870s. It was drained for agricultural purposes. The overall water levels in the region has been lowered 6-7 meters. The pumping layer comprises almost 600 ha.

A Walk and a Sailing Myth

Posted on by Hanna

The small ferry sailing around Frederiksborg Castle resembles undeniably a little boat from Legoland.

However, many people are having a joyous day on the lake with a different view to the castle

Recently I heard on the radio that the little boat is a rebuilt lifeboat from one of the most famous vessels in Danish history:

The ship Jutlandia, a floating hospital, that went on three expeditions from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War.

That changed completely my perspective on the small ferry, until yesterday, when I did some research.

The shipping company tells the story on their website. The ferry has sailed the lake since 1952, and the story about the lifeboat is so popular that it has almost turned into a truth. Some myths are worth saving 🙂

Note

You can take a wonderful walk around the lake and through the Baroque garden or you can continue towards Gribskov and wilderness.

Click the link to see my beautiful walk towards the mountain in the forest:

Walking from a castle to a mountain on an icy day.