Isgård
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Isgård Manor House | |
|---|---|
 Isgård in Denmark | |
  Location of Isgård in Denmark on the southern part of the peninsula, Djursland | |
| Former names | Eg |
| General information | |
| Location | Isgårdsvej 7, 8420 Knebel, Denmark |
| Coordinates | 56°11′N 10°25′E / 56.18°N 10.42°E |
| Construction started | 1100s |
| Completed | Main building from 1890 |
Isgård is a Danish manor house and farm close to the sea on the hilly southern part of the peninsula Djursland in the Kattegat Sea between Denmark and Sweden at the entrance to the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe.[1] Isgård is located on the Tved peninsula flanking the east coast of Århus Bugt (Århus Bay) to the west and Begtrup Vig (Begtrup Bay) to the east. Isgård lies 10 kilometers from the city Århus in a straight line across Århus Bugt, but 47 kilometers by road around the bay.[1]
As of 2011 Isgård includes 263 hectares of land. There are modern pig farm buildings with a registered production capacity of 12.000 piglets weighing 7 to 30 kilos per year.[2] These buildings are located out of sight of the main buildings, but are visible from the southern sea front in Begtrup Vig. The oldest of Isgård's buildings are about 300 years old dating back to the 1700s.[3]
The small public country road leading to Isgård, Isgårdsvej, runs through the main yard continuing under a narrow archway through one of the old farm buildings, turning up a hill as an unpaved road to Landborup. Here the road passes a viewpoint 80 meters above sea level.[1] From this spot there is a view of many of southern Djursland's bays, as well as 10 kilometers across Århus Bugt to mainland Jutland with the seaport of Århus clearly seen. Århus is Denmark's second largest city lying south of the peninsula, Djursland, where Isgård is located on the southern part.[1] In his 2022 book Tolkien og det mytiske Jylland (Danish: Tolkien and the mythical Jutland), historian Casper Clemmensen suggests that Isgård inspired J. R. R. Tolkien in his development of the fortress Isengard in The Lord of the Rings.[4]
In the Middle Ages Isgård was called Eg (Oak). A nearby village still bears this name today.[3] Isgård has been owned by bishop Skjalm Vognsen, who was one of the builders of Århus Cathedral in the 1100s and 1200s.[3] From the hills up from Isgård, the cathedral in Århus, with its 96 meter high tower, could clearly be seen in olden days. Today the built up harbor area partly obscures the view to the cathedral.[1]
When the Reformation came to Denmark around 1536, with the shift from Catholicism to Protestant Lutheranism, church belongings were confiscated by the king, including Isgård, that was part of Århus Cathedral's estate.[3]
Eight years later, in 1544, the king sold Isgård to a neighboring squire in the area, High Court judge, Anders Christiernsen Sandberg of Quelstrup.[3]
In the early 1600s Isgård-owner Joachim Gersdorff bought three other estates around Århus Bugt including Rolsøgård, Vosnæsgård and Quelstrup. In the late 1700s this conglomerate was split up again.[3]
Through the 1800s Isgård often changed owners. In 1890 the existing main building was built by court squire Just Henrik Krieger, and his wife, baroness Ellen Gyldenstjerne.[3]
As of June 2016 Isgård is owned by Ole Danmark Knudsen.[5]
