Tirsbæk Estate is also called Tirsbæk Castle and is located on the north side of Vejle Fjord, between high, forested slopes close to the fjord. There is no public access to the castle itself, but every year a Christmas market is held with access to the courtyard and some of the former farm buildings. The castle’s Renaissance garden is open to the public during the summer months.
History of the Castle
The main building dates back to 1550 and is surrounded by moats. The name Tirsbæk – formerly Thyrsbæk – comes from the god Odin’s son, Tyr. It is believed that there was once a temple where Tirsbæk is located today, and that Queen Thyra had the temple converted into a castle when Christianity prevailed.
The current three-winged main building was erected on a medieval fortification by Iver Lunge. The north and east wings of Tirsbæk Castle date from around 1550, while the tower and west wing were added in 1577. The complex was thoroughly remodeled in the mid-1700s, when the large park was also laid out as a terraced Renaissance garden east of the castle. The park was completed in 1745, including a vineyard – the oldest existing one in Denmark.
Many families have owned Tirsbæk Castle over the years, and it is said to be haunted as well. The “Grey Lady” – the beautiful shoemaker’s daughter from Horsens, Maren Loss – is said to haunt the castle as punishment for having killed her husband, the estate owner Christen Linde. He died under mysterious circumstances in the 1750s after only a few years of marriage. The widow later married the handsome bailiff Jørgen Hvas, who bought himself a noble title and the name Hvas de Lindenpalm.
H.C. Andersen visited Tirsbæk Castle in 1830. He wrote in his diary:
“The estate is quite antique with loopholes, moats and a drawbridge, and with a large tower where I saw a dreadful dungeon, where there were still large iron rings in the wall.”
Since 1912, the estate has been owned by the current owner’s family, the Algreen-Ussing family. The family, who also reside at the castle, run the estate as a combined agricultural and forestry business, as well as renting out houses to private individuals and companies. The former stable has been converted into an exclusive banquet restaurant, Restaurant Slotsstalden.
Surroundings of the Castle
There are ample opportunities for a walk on the castle’s large grounds. Tirsbæk comprises nearly 400 hectares of fields, meadows, and forest. In addition, 12 hectares of park, 13 residential houses, a former smithy, bakery, and two watermills belong to the castle.
The castle is located a short distance from Tirsbæk Beach. Here you can park your car, enjoy an ice cream from the Tirsbæk Beach Kiosk, or take a swim in the water. Read about what Tirsbæk Beach has to offer.
There is also a three-kilometre route that goes through forest, beach, and castle meadows past the castle. The walk takes about an hour. Please note that the route is not marked. You can find the route around Tirsbæk here.
