Spøttrup Borg (Castle)

In the 14th century, Spøttrup Castle belonged to the influential nobleman Niels Buggesen Bugge, known as the leader of a rebellion against Valdemar Atterdag and nicknamed “King Bugge.” Besides Spøttrup, he owned numerous other estates. In 1404, Johan Skarpenberg donated the property to the Bishop of Viborg. Around 1500, Bishops Niels Glob or Erik Kaas had a brick castle built. This consisted of two long and one shorter wing, supplemented by a curtain wall and a tower on the west side. Originally, the castle was taller and featured a firing floor as well as built-in latrine shafts, known as “Heimlichkeiten,” which were restored during renovation. During the Count's Feud around 1534, the castle was fired upon but not captured, leading to the conversion of wide windows into arrow slits. After the Reformation, Spøttrup fell to the Crown in 1536 and was acquired by Henrik Below in 1579, who converted the south wing for residential purposes, adding Renaissance vaults and large windows. In the 18th century, Axel Rosenkrantz purchased the castle, and his son Mogens furnished the Baroque residence in 1702. In the 19th century, the castle underwent further changes, including the establishment of a distillery in the north wing and the leveling of parts of the rampart. After its acquisition by the state in the 1930s, a comprehensive restoration took place, restoring its Renaissance and medieval appearance.

Spøttrup Borg is located in the municipality of Skive, in the district of Skive in the Midtjylland (Central Jutland) region, Denmark. It stands at an elevation of approximately 7 m above sea level.

Today, Spøttrup Borg is privately owned and has been extensively restored to preserve its medieval and Renaissance appearance. Visitors can explore the restored “Heimlichkeiten,” the gate tower, and the walkable curtain wall. East of the castle, there is a Renaissance garden with medieval herbs and medicinal plants, as well as an extensive garden complex. Medieval games and festivals are regularly held here, such as the European Championship for Knights in 2012.

• Aggersborg (castle), approx. 49.0 km away
• Fyrkat (Viking fortress) (castle), approx. 60.6 km away
• Ulstrup Castle (castle), approx. 67.7 km away
• Frijsenborg Slot (castle) (castle), approx. 80.2 km away