The History of Tirsbæk Castle

Tirsbæk Castle is beautifully located on the north side of Vejle Fjord between high, forested slopes in a side valley of the fjord. The main building from 1550 is surrounded by moats, and to the east of the castle lies a Renaissance garden.

The name Tirsbæk – formerly Thyrsbæk – originates from Tyr, the son of the god Odin. It is believed that there was once a temple where Tirsbæk is located today, and that Queen Thyra converted the temple into a castle when Christianity triumphed.

The current three-winged main building was erected on a medieval fortification by Iver Lunge. The north and east wings of Tirsbæk Castle date back to around 1550, while the tower and west wing were added in 1577. The complex underwent a comprehensive transformation in the mid-18th century, when the large park was also laid out as a terraced Renaissance garden to the east of the castle. The park was completed in 1745, featuring a vineyard – the oldest existing one in Denmark.

Many families have owned Tirsbæk Castle over the years (including Lunge, Dyre, Linde, von Benzon, Becker, Schack). The castle's "grey lady," the beautiful shoemaker's daughter from Horsens – Maren Loss – is said to haunt the place as punishment for having killed her husband, the landowner Christen Linde. He died under mysterious circumstances in the 1750s, after only a few years of marriage. The widow remarried the handsome steward Jørgen Hvas, who bought a noble title and the name Hvas de Lindenpalm.

H.C. Andersen visited Tirsbæk Castle in 1830. He wrote in his diary: "The yard is quite antique with loopholes, moats, and drawbridge and with a large tower, where I saw a terrible dungeon with large iron rings still in the wall."

Tirsbæk Castle Now

Since 1912, the estate has been owned by the current owners' family, the Algreen-Ussing family. The family, who also reside in the castle, runs the place 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 restaurant, Restaurant Slotsstalden.

The castle is not open to the public, but an annual Christmas market is held, where access is granted to the courtyard and some of the former farm buildings. The Renaissance garden of the castle is open to the public during the summer months.

Surroundings of the Castle

The Tirsbæk estate includes nearly 400 hectares of arable land, meadows, and forests, 12 hectares of parkland, 13 residential houses, a former smithy, a bakery, and 2 water mills. It is also located right next to Tirsbæk Beach.

Here you can park your car, enjoy an ice cream or other offerings from the Tirsbæk beach kiosk. There are also tables, benches, and toilets available.

There is a walking route in the area on a 3-kilometer-long trail with a duration of about 1 hour. The trail is not marked. It goes through forest, beach, and castle meadow and past Tirsbæk Castle. Click on the link to see the route - Trsbæk - Udeliv Vejle

Read more about Tirsbæk Castle on their website: www.tirsbaekgods.dk/en