Beautiful manor by Horsens Fjord
The large peninsula, Gyllingnæs, lies peacefully, far from larger towns. The manor at the end of the peninsula, with a history dating back to the early 1800s, has had an interesting ownership history and today stands beautifully as a gateway to Horsens Fjord.
The history of the manor
The land where the manor now stands originally belonged to the Åkjær Estate, but was purchased in 1801 by the English merchant John Smith, who had a financial interest in the many valuable oak trees that then covered the peninsula. The manor remained in English hands well into the 1800s. The Smith family was quite flamboyant and reportedly had a past as pirates, and were also accused of, among other things, abductions and immorality. The lifestyle of John Smith’s son is described in St. St. Blicher's novella, Den Hule Eg ("The Hollow Oak"), while T.A. Becker's novella Englænderne på Gyllingnæs ("The English on Gyllingnæs") also focuses on the interesting owners.
Today, Gyllingnæs is owned by the well-known financier Troels Holck-Povlsen, founder of the global fashion company Bestseller. Gyllingnæs is one of the farms within the company De 5 Gårde, which sells Danish-produced food.
The current main building was constructed in 1865 as an elegant, whitewashed, two-story building.
See Gyllingnæs on a hike
There is no public access to the manor, and it is not permitted to enter the park-like garden. However, it is possible to see the manor from the coast on a hike. From the village of Lerdrup, a gravel road runs along Lerdrup Bay to the westernmost point of the peninsula, where there is a small parking lot. A hike from here to the tip of the peninsula along the coast and back is approximately 9 kilometers. Along the way, you pass right by the manor at the shoreline.
You can read more about the hike and the peninsula Gyllingnæs on this page.
More historical attractions
Kystlandet offers many historical buildings and attractions that highlight the area's cultural history. On this page, you can find inspiration for other historical experiences in East Jutland.
