Gammel Estrup in the Middle Ages
Gammel Estrup lies on the road between Randers and Grenaa, with Helligbjerget rising on one side and the impressive manor house, with its red Renaissance brickwork, standing on the other. The main building is surrounded by double moats and large farm buildings, which bear witness to the estate’s historical significance.
The exact date when Gammel Estrup was built is unknown. However, archaeological excavations of the castle mound have revealed building remains from the 14th century. Throughout the Middle Ages, there were periods when the estate was the subject of land disputes or was destroyed during acts of war.
Gammel Estrup remained in the hands of the same family for 600 years. The oldest parts of the current buildings date from around 1490, when the owner Lave Brock (died c. 1504) built a stone fortress. Lave Brock was known for his fierce temper, and according to one account, he personally killed the merchant Niels Paaske from Randers in 1468.
