A knight's residence
Glimmingehus, which is situated in Skåne, is the best-preserved medieval manor in Scandinavia. It was established as a grand residence for the Danish knight Jens Holgersen Ulfstand and his family in 1499, when Skåne was still part of Denmark.
The manor was built with heavy stone walls and many odd specifications like false doors, “murder holes” and other defences, as was common with nobility in those days to protect against trespassers and peasant uprisings.
Though not much is known about the inhabitants of the manor, archaeological findings of objects like Venetian glasses and Spanish ceramics suggest that this was a rather affluent household—at least until the knight’s death in 1520. In the 17th century, during the Scanian War, Swedish King Charles XI ordered the manor to be demolished so it would not fall back into Danish hands. However, the structure proved too strong and the manor was eventually used for agriculture until the mid 1900s.
Today, Glimmingehus stands as a testament to life during the Middle Ages, and the site now contains a museum, medieval kitchen, shop, restaurant and coffee house. During the summer, there are daily guided tours along with tournaments, markets and events inspired by the ghosts that are said to haunt the manor.
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