Trail 9, Svendborg

This text is an excerpt from the book about the Archipelago Trail, and therefore provides more background, detail and inspiration than the shorter trail leaflets.

This trail takes you from Vejstrup up through Vejstrup Valley, onward to Klingstrup, and then through farmland before reaching Broholm Castle.

Upstream from the watermill, walking on the Archipelago Trail becomes quite challenging. The path clings to the steep, forested, clay slopes of the valley, twisting up, down and sideways, so sturdy footwear and caution are recommended.

After about 400 metres, the trail crosses Vejstrup Stream via the old railway bridge from the former Svendborg–Nyborg line. Farther west, the stream is crossed again—this time on an older bridge—before the trail climbs the farm road across the vast estate fields of Vejstrup Manor. From here, it follows the paved road toward Klingstrup.

The Klingstrup Farms – A Manor’s Story

Three farms once stood at Klingstrup: “Oldest Klingstrup” to the south, “Old Klingstrup” to the west, and the newer “New Klingstrup” to the north.

The oldest Klingstrup, known from 1351, belonged to Niels Pedersen de Klinstrop and stood about 150 metres south of present‑day New Klingstrup. It was originally a fortified manor with a moat and later came under church ownership.

With the Reformation in 1536, the king took over church estates, including Klingstrup. In 1577 it passed into private hands and was subsequently owned by several noble families.

In 1631 a new manor house was built west of the old fortification—predecessor to present‑day Old Klingstrup. It contained three low niches: one for the dungeon known as the “dog hole” and two for stocks.

Manor estates acted as local power centres with judicial authority over their tenant farmers.

Around 1800, the owner demolished the oldest Klingstrup and consolidated land under Vejstrup Manor. The current manor house at Old Klingstrup dates from 1820. New Klingstrup was built in 1853 on a 72‑hectare parcel.

Manor Fields

Fyn’s manor estates often have large, open fields—just like those surrounding Klingstrup. Its boundaries were: Dyrehaven to the south, Klingstrup Forest to the west, Vejstrup Stream to the north and Vejstrup Manor to the east.

From here, the Archipelago Trail continues for four kilometres through farmland dotted with farmhouses and old road booths.

Smallholder Farms and Workers’ Housing

East of Tøjsmose lie five to six smallholder farms from 1930–1950. Their long, narrow fields are still clearly visible. Many such farms were established after the 1919 land reform on parcels taken from manor estates.

The Svendborg–Nyborg Railway

The trail once again crosses the old railway embankment of the Svendborg–Nyborg line. The railway operated from 1887 to 1964, covering nearly 38 kilometres, with a journey time of about 75 minutes.

Broholm

Broholm is first mentioned in 1326 and remained in the Ulfeldt family until 1473. During the Count’s Feud (1533–1536), many manors were destroyed, but Broholm survived—possibly thanks to its moats.

In 1641, Otto Skeel bought the estate and built the Late Gothic building that still stands today, unusually constructed directly on top of the medieval fortification.

In 1770, the Sehested family took over Broholm, and the estate remains in the family’s ownership today, now in the 13th generation.

Broholm was fully restored in 2002, and today houses a restaurant and conference facilities. The estate spans 600 hectares, including 160 hectares of farmland and 400 hectares of forest. A “Fairytale Path” circles the grounds.

Niels Frederik Bernhard Sehested

Chamberlain N.F.B. Sehested lived at Broholm from 1839 to 1882. Both a landowner and amateur archaeologist, he restored and rebuilt the manor in 1839–1840, adding towers, stepped gables and brick bridges.

In 1861, he began improving Lundeborg Harbour, and he conducted numerous excavations in the Gudme–Lundeborg area, laying the foundation for today’s understanding of this Iron Age power centre. His works from 1878–1881 remain valuable.

His enormous collection of 60,000 stone tools is preserved in the Antiquities Collection at Broholm.

The Halls of the Gudme King

Near Gudme stood an extraordinary Iron Age settlement with massive halls and rich finds of gold and Roman luxury items. The largest hall, discovered in the 1990s, is known as “Gudmekongens Haller”—about 50 metres long. A viewing tower south of the sports halls provides interpretation and marks the postholes in the terrain.

Vejstrup Watermill

The Archipelago Trail passes close to Vejstrup Watermill, which has stood here since at least the 1600s. The current building dates from 1838. Milling ceased in 1975, but the interior is intact. The mill is privately owned.