Fuglsang is a 19th-century manor house now operated by Det Classenske Fideicommis as a cultural centre as an active agricultural estate at Toreby on the island of Lolland, in southeastern Denmark. The estate was owned by members of the de Neergaard family from 1819 to 1947. The main building serves as a venue for classical concerts and other cultural activities. The cultural centre also includes Fuglsang Art Museum, located in a purpose-built building designed by British architect Tony Fretton.
History.
Early history.
The history of the estate can be tracked back to 1368. The original fortified castle was located a few hundred metres further north, where remains can still be seen. The location at the edge of marshland where Flintinge Stream mouths in the Guldborgsund Strait, close to the only ford in the area, has made it of strategic importance in the area.
In the 16th century, Fuglsang was moved to its current location on a larger islet, surrounded by broad moats. This building was demolished in 1849 and replaced by a Neoclassical main building. The park, still seen today, was also founded at this event.
Rolf Viggo de Neergaard took over the property from his parents in 1866, but due to fungal attacks on the timber, the only 26-year-old building had to be demolished.
The current building was built from 1868-69 to the design of his cousin architect Jens G. Zinn who has also designed several buildings at the Holmen Naval Base in Copenhagen.
Artist's retreat.
In 1885, de Neergaard married his cousin Bodil Neergaard, and together they opened the house to a large number of visiting artists and particularly musicians. Both the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg and the Danish composer Carl Nielsen were frequent visitors to the house and close friends of the couple.
Upon her husband's death in 1915, Bodil Neergaard managed the large estate alone, and organized the social and church life of the household. In 1947, she bequested the estate to a trust, providing that her home and garden should be made a retreat upon her death. After her death in 1959, Refugiet Fuglsang was founded in 1962 and served as a retreat for artists and other people of note until it had to close in 1995. The following year a local musical society was founded, arranging 9 annual concerts. Since 1997, the Storstrøm Chamber Ensemble has been based at Fuglsang.
In January 2008, Fuglsang Art Museum opened in a purpose-built building close to the Fuglsang main building.
Interior.
The music room is very large and known for its exceptional acoustics. Next to it, the Agnethe Room (Danish: Agnethestuen), features a fresco representing a scene from the Danish folk tale Agnethe and the Merman. The painting was created by the painter Axel Viggo Wørmer.
Wørmer has also created the Pompeian decorations in the Fuglsang's library. The library is the former billiard room. The billiard table is now located in the Prime Minister's summer residence Marienborg.
Today.
Today Fuglsang serves as a venue for concerts and other cultural activities.
The Fuglsang/Priorskov Estate has 1,731 hectares of land. It is managed as an active agricultural estate by a trust.
References.
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