In addition to the manor itself, two hillforts are located near Arreskov Slot (Arreskov Castle), and the largest of these is the remains of the royal castle. Arreskov serves as one the most important fortifications in the country from the Middle Ages, and few fortifications in Denmark have had as violent a history as Arreskov.
The small hillfort, Perdeholm, is considered to be the oldest fortification and is very likely the one which was conquered and burnt to the ground by Eric Plowpenny (king, 1241–1250) in 1248. In 1264, Arreskov (the large hillfort) was conquered by Eric V Klipping (king, 1259–1286) and again it was burnt to the ground.
The importance of the royal castles during that age is indisputable, and that is also why their connection to the landscape is important. On a grander scale, the castles indicate that South Fyn and the islands were very important to the Throne, and we must assume that they represent what was considered to be the best technical solution for defence. In this case, Arreskov Sø, which was larger at that time, was used as a part of the defence. The lake itself, which is the largest on Fyn (3.17 km2), occupies a low-lying area probably representing a so-called central depression formed in connection to the complex ice-marginal and dead-ice landscape of ‘The Alps of Fyn’.
In absolute terms then, castles were the manifestation of the Crown in the society and were central strongpoints for maintaining an otherwise fleeting royal power in times of unrest. Arreskov is an example, which illustrates that this was not always successful because its predecessors were conquered and burnt to the ground.
