Danish Greenspace: Ownership of Historic Sites

Does the historic and elitist institution of the country house estate have a role and purpose in Denmark’s egalitarian society? Explain your answer.

Today we visited Egeskov, on the island of Fyn. This enormous estate and castle is privately owned by the same family that originally had it built in the 16th century. They have kept it in pristine condition, turning the castle itself into a sort of museum and carefully maintaining the lawns and gardens. Today, Egeskov is a tourist attraction and family-oriented establishment – it has entry fees, a gift shop, cafés, museums, tours and an amazing playground that made me wish I had been there as a ten-year-old.

thanks, google

i took a picture of the map. lots going on here.

I think this is a case where private ownership works very well. The family has found a way to make the establishment profitable, giving them the opportunity to keep the historic site in good condition. It is an amenity for locals as well as bringing in tourist dollars. It has won awards for its gardens, putting Fyn on the map for garden-lovers, and the architecture draws historians and architects from all over the world. It would be a shame to see these beautiful historic sites go unappreciated.

But this blog question is tough, because the situation depends so heavily on the ownership of the grounds. Egeskov is an example of proper management, but I can think of all sorts of ways that a private owner could let a place like this go to waste. If owners are not entrepreneurial in their approach, these old buildings and gardens are impossible to maintain without a fortune.

The benefits of private ownership seem to outweigh the costs, though. Each site gets its own flavor from its historic ownership, and does not have to comply with national regulations and standards for public parks. In addition, a model like Egeskov can motivate and inspire other families to turn their expensive properties into public amenities that can actually pay out.

Cheers,

Robin