Egeskov Slot

Today we visited, without a doubt, the most beautiful castle I have ever been to.  It was/is our last day of class so our final field trip was truly spectacular.  The castle grounds had been turned into a sort of tourist attraction so that it the Count and Countess could continue to live there yet pay for its upkeep.  All I have to say is... Downton Abbey... I was half expecting Matthew Crowley to stroll across the drawbridge with Lady Mary (too bad they killed him off the show).

However, there is a big difference between large english manors like the one portrayed in Downton Abbey and their counterparts in Denmark.  The Danish society never truly had a large aristocracy for there to be large castles all across the country side.  Also, the "Count's Feud" in 1883-1884 is a great example of how Danish society has always had an egalitarian element.  The quasi-war was instigated by peasants attacking large manor houses because of wealth inequalities.  This is why the castle at Egeskov has a moat, drawbridge, and such beautiful fortifications.

I think that Denmark's current society is so egalitarian that these manor houses have no point in being solely inherited, private property.  In fact, there are not many at all left that are purely private.  I liked the way Egeskov was turned into a sort of tourist attraction so that the count could share his collections and homes with the general public for a fee.  Also the gardens- fabulously beautiful.  My pictures don't do it justice at all, so check this out if you want to see more: click here!