Vordingborg Castle

Welcome to the dramatic ruins of Vordingborg Castle, situated on the southern coast of the island of Zealand. You are standing on ground that was once the absolute epicenter of Danish medieval power. …

Begin your journey by walking along the perimeter of the site, tracing the remains of the defensive fortifications. Vordingborg was built on a naturally defensible hill, but the medieval engineers augmented this terrain…

As we move inward from the perimeter, we enter what was once the bustling courtyard of the castle. The ground here is uneven, scattered with low brick walls and heavy stone foundations. …

We now stand before the undisputed crown jewel of Vordingborg, and indeed one of the most important medieval monuments in all of Denmark: Gåsetårnet, the Goose Tower. Of the original nine massive corner towers built by Valdemar…

Look to the very apex of the tower's spire. Perched high above the Danish landscape, acting as a weather vane, is the golden goose that gives the tower its name. …

If you possess the entry code and the gates are open, step inside the Goose Tower. The transition from the open air to the dark, enclosed interior is immediate and stark. …

Emerging at the top of the tower, you are rewarded with a breathtaking, unobstructed panorama of the Zealand countryside and the vast expanse of the sea. It is easy to see why Valdemar chose this specific hill; from this vantage…

As you descend the tower and walk back across the ruined foundations of Vordingborg Castle, take a moment to reflect on the transient nature of power. This site was once the terrifying, unassailable headquarters of kings who…