From Crown Estate to 12 Manor Houses

In the last three decades of the 18th century, Denmark underwent a marked period of prosperity and reform. The agricultural reforms included the privatization of crown lands, and the royal cavalry districts - established after the Great Northern War (1701-20) - were dissolved from 1768. In September 1774, it was Vordingborg's turn: the lands south of the invisible line Præstø-Næstved were divided into 12 main estate lots, and over two auction days, the castle's lands were sold for a total of 482,740 rdl. - equivalent to approximately 500 million kr. in today's money.

In the following decades, a series of manor house buildings were erected on the former crown estate, and the open landscape around Vordingborg took on the character of the new large estates.

Niels Peter Stilling examines in the lecture the auction itself and then each individual manor's history up to the present day - with particular focus on the new main buildings' architecture and builders, as well as the estates' current status.

The lecture is arranged in collaboration with the Local History Association.