The Danish Research Centre for Manorial Studies
The Danish Research Centre for Manorial Studies (Dansk Center for Herregårdsforskning) is a collaboration between Gammel Estrup – The Danish Manor & Estate Museum, the National Museum of Denmark, Aarhus University, and the Aarhus School of Architecture.
The Centre serves as Gammel Estrup’s research department, continuously generating knowledge that supports the museum’s wide range of communication activities. At the same time, it functions as a national and international hub for manor house research.
Danish Research Centre for Manorial Studies
Through letters, diaries, accounts, objects, and many other sources, the Centre’s researchers study the history of manor houses and life within them.
They analyse the architecture of the historic buildings, thereby contributing to improved strategies for their preservation. They examine the conditions of the many people associated with the estates and expand knowledge of rural development over time. They portray the genteel life of past eras, the refined lifestyles of the elite, and the experiences of those at the top of the hierarchy and at the centre of power. At the same time, they observe contemporary life on manor houses and identify opportunities for their future development.
The Danish Research Centre for Manorial Studies communicates its findings through the website danskeherregaarde.dk, lectures, conferences, knowledge festivals, exhibitions, publications, and guided tours.
The Centre serves as a collaborative partner for researchers, students, manor house owners, organisations, journalists, genealogists, and private individuals interested in the history and present-day life of manor houses.
The Centre also coordinates the Danish network Castle and Manor House Forum, which serves as a meeting and discussion platform for anyone interested in the preservation, communication, and research of Danish manor houses.
In 2015, the international research network ENCOUNTER: European Network for Country House and Estate Research was established, with The Danish Research Centre for Manorial Studies serving as its coordinator and driving force.
The Centre also coordinates the Nordic manor house research network, which convenes annually at the Nordic Castles and Manor Houses Symposium.