Hesselagergård, Renaissance manor house in Svendborg Municipality, Denmark.
Hesselagergård is a three-story red brick manor with two towers, rounded gables, and a granite base encircled by a moat that has surrounded it since 1538. The building combines both defensive and decorative elements in its exterior design.
Johan Friis, chancellor to King Christian III, commissioned architect Martin Bussert in 1538 to build this residence, a project completed in 1550. The Blixen-Finecke family acquired the property in 1904 and has maintained it since then.
The Deer Room displays a frieze from the 1550s created by Jacob Brinck showing herds of deer, landscapes, and figures in daily scenes. Visitors can see how this decorated space reflects the wealth and artistic tastes of Renaissance nobility.
The manor welcomes visitors and allows them to see Renaissance architecture up close along with its medieval defensive features. Take time to walk around the grounds and explore the surrounding landscape to appreciate the full setting.
The watchman's passage at the roof level includes machicolation and defensive slits, blending military function with Renaissance aesthetics in an unusual way. This design choice shows how practical security needs shaped the building's appearance.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
