Vemmetofte Convent
| Vemmetofte Convent | |
|---|---|
Vemmetofte
|
|
| General information | |
| Architectural style |
Baroque (1721) Historicism |
| Town or city | Vemmetofte, Faxe Municipality |
| Country | Denmark |
| Coordinates | 55°15′19″N 12°13′33″E / 55.2553°N 12.2259°ECoordinates: 55°15′19″N 12°13′33″E / 55.2553°N 12.2259°E |
| Construction started | 1500 |
| Completed | 1714–21 and 1907 |
| Client | Prince Charles of Denmark (1719s expansion) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect |
Johan Conrad Ernst Axel Berg |
Vemmetofte Convent is a former manor house in Faxe Municipality south of Copenhagen, Denmark. It was turned into a convent by Princess Sophia Hedwig of Denmark in 1735. Since 1975 it has provided housing available to the general public.
The oldest known reference to Vemmetofte Manor dates back to 1320 when it was owned by Johannes Offesen, a brother-in-law of Stig Andersen Hvide who owned land both in Skåneland and on Zealand. Later it was owned by members of the aristocratic Brock family from 1464 to 1639. During this early stage of its history it was a strongly fortified house with a ring wall, double moats and draw bridges.
After that it passed through the Brahe, Rosenkrandz and Krabbe families before it was bought by Queen Consort Charlotte Amalie in 1694 as part of a larger acquisition of land in the area. She had plans to turn the property into a convent but died in 1714 before they were carried out.
The next owner was Prince Charles of Denmark, Charlotte Amalie's youngest son, who resided at Jægerspris Castle which he had been given by his brother, Frederick IV, who had become king in 1699. Prince Charles immediately embarked on a major renovation and expansion of his new property which it would take nine years to complete.
When Frederick IV had Anne Sophie Reventlow, his spouse by bigamy, crowned as his queen in 1721, it led to a breach between the two brothers, and Prince Charles and their sister, Princess Sophia Hedwig, showed their disapproaval by turning their backs on the Court in Copenhagen and taking up residence at Vemmetofte.
At Vemmetofte Manor, Charles and Sophie Hedvig maintained an extravagant household. They had a staff of 70 people surpervised by their chamberlain, Carl Adolph von Plessen, who had been a close friend of Prince Charles since their youth
...
Wikipedia