Manor near Hou
At the end of the war between Denmark and Sweden in 1658-60, Denmark was forced to cede Skåne, Halland, and Blekinge, and private land in Skåne was given to the Swedes in exchange for the island Bornholm. One of those who had to give up land was the high-ranking official, Chancellor Joachim Gersdorff. In compensation, he was given land in East Jutland, specifically near Odder. Gersdorff died the following year in 1661, and the land was divided among his heirs. From her portion, Margrethe Gersdorff, who in 1672 married Queen's Chamberlain Gregorius Rathlou, established an estate and named it Gersdorffslund. She also established the nearby manor Rathlousdal near Odder. Rathlousdal and Gersdorffslund remained part of the same estate until 1921 when Gersdorffslund was sold off. It was a significant estate, originally covering 700 hectares, though today Gersdorffslund consists of 187 hectares. The estate is now owned by Jens Gammelgaard.
The estate owned all the land surrounding Hou and functioned almost like a small community with its own dairy, smithy, saddle-maker, carriage-maker, and other trades.
The building
The Gersdorffslund estate sits beautifully today with views of fields, forests, and the sea, just west of Hou. The original main building was built in half-timbered style but burned down in the 18th century. The current main building was constructed in 1854 in the neoclassical style—an elegant, whitewashed building with a red-tiled roof and a high basement. There are also several newer farm buildings nearby, as well as a few granite buildings from the early 19th century.
Near the manor
From Gersdorffslund, you can follow Vestergade eastward for a few hundred meters to reach the ferry and marina in Hou, where you’ll find restaurants, ice cream parlors, and shopping options. A couple of hundred meters to the south is the lovely Ravnskoven Forest by the sea, which is perfect for a scenic walk. Just north of Gersdorffslund is the entrance to the historic fortification of Bjørnkær.
On this page, you can find inspiration for experiences around Hou.
More historical attractions
The Kystlandet region offers many fascinating historical attractions, from ancient history to industrial heritage. From museums to architectural landmarks and natural attractions, you can find inspiration for historically interesting experiences near Horsens, Odder, and Juelsminde on this page.
