Ringe – Egeskov Castle and Mill

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Distance 20 km. If you are into history, you can look forward to one of Denmark’s best-known buildings. This trip goes past Egeskov Castle.

Difficulty: The whole trip is on asphalted roads. The route is flat without large hills.

Suitability for children: This is a varied ride suitable for children. Egeskov Mill and Egeskov itself are good experiences for the whole family.

20 Egeskov Castle The tour starts at Ringe Lake, which was re-established through a nature restoration project in 2004. Today, the lake is an urban pearl of nature, and this is also where you will find the large art bench ”Termini”. South of the lake there is an Iron Age play and communication centre. Turn left along the trail and around the lake. Turn left onto Søgårdsvej and again right onto Søvej. Left on Vestergade and right on Algade. At the crossroads, take the bike track to the right towards Korinth. Turn right onto Boltinggårdsvej and follow it until you turn left onto Rudmevej. Turn right onto Sundgårdsvej and follow this down past Fjællebro Estate.

Fjellebro Estate Fjællebro’s farm estate has been one of the largest breeding farms on Funen. In the 18th century, a Masonic lodge was established here. Between 1818 and 1900 the farm was upgraded as a family house. The north wing of the main building was built in approximately 1575. Renovation and changes took place in 1726. The estate is not publicly accessible. Cross Bøjdenvej. Follow Bøgegyden and turn left onto Hundtoftevej and follow the sign on the left towards Egeskov Mill.

Egeskov Mill Many people know the old ten-kroner mill. The mill was built in 1848 as a grain mill and was in operation until 1949. Egeskov Mill is still in use for milling wheat for flour. Volunteers are members of the ”Egeskov Mill Guild” selling all the flour they can grind in their spare time. When you see the mill blades turning, it is open to the public. Until 1926, Egeskov Mill belonged to the Egeskov Estate. Today, the mill is owned by Svendborg Museum.

At Grønnebjergvej turn right and out onto Bøjdenvej (a very short distance), where you’ll turn left onto Egeskovgade.

Egeskov Slot Egeskov is South Funen’s largest tourist attraction and one of the most wellknown buildings in Denmark. The castle was built by the sheriff Frands Brockenhuus and was completed in 1554. At that time, the political turmoil - the Reformation and the count’s feud - caused many large landowners to build their homes as hard-to-reach citizens. So too did Frands Brockenhuus, who built his castle in the middle of a lake - according to tradition on a foundation of oak and so thoroughly that ”a whole oak forest was placed there”. Hence the name of the castle. Today, the castle is inhabited and owned by Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille.

From the entrance and via the dirt road, turn right around the castle to Holmegyden. Here turn left. The road will later bear the name Egeskovvej. Turn left (a short distance) along Rudmevej and immediately right onto Volstrupvej. After a long distance - turn left onto Boltinggårdsvej. Turn right again, and now you are back on Svendborgvej - return towards Ringe.