Garden Guide

The park's many varied garden spaces should be viewed as an experience in themselves – just as much as the museums and the castle. Upon arrival at Egeskov, you can get a map at the entrance with the recommended green route, which will lead you through all 17 garden spaces.

1. The Grey Garden & The Perennial Garden
In the White Garden, you will experience that all the leaves are grey. This garden forms a sunken part of the Perennial Garden, and in the center, you will find an old baptismal font from the 12th century. Egeskov also has two other ancient baptismal fonts, and a third has been donated to Kværndrup Church.
The Perennial Garden was originally an 800 m² perennial garden created in 1967 through a collaboration between Countess Nonni and landscape architects Erna Sonne Friis and Ingwer Ingwersen. In 1984, the garden bed was dismantled, but the current Count Michael and castle gardener Peter Bonde Poulsen restored Nonni’s perennial garden in 1996, following the original planting plans.
The garden was further renovated in 2008, and in 2019, a new perennial bed was planted within the original framework. It is divided into five sections with 300 plots and 100 different types of perennials, offering changing colors from early spring to late autumn. The composition alternates between perennials, trees, shrubs, and grasses. The garden was designed by castle gardener Peter Bonde Poulsen, and the planting plan was created by garden architect Janne Fuglsang.

2. Dahlia Garden
This garden was originally a fruit garden surrounded by tall hedges. The hedges create an extraordinary microclimate, ensuring that the temperature in the garden is always three degrees warmer than the open landscape. This made it a perfect choice to transform the fruit garden into a dahlia garden.
A total of 140 dahlia varieties are planted in the Dahlia Garden, featuring a selection from pompon and cactus dahlias to large blooming giant dahlias, reaching up to 30 cm in diameter. The Dahlia Garden offers an extraordinary display of color during the summer.
Before the frost sets in during autumn, the gardeners dig up the dahlia tubers to store them under warm, controlled conditions in the greenhouses for the winter.
In spring, 11,000 tulips transform the garden space into a dazzling spectacle. The 70 different tulip varieties create a true floral display during the spring months, which is complemented by the simultaneous blooming of fruit trees.

3. The Herb Garden
This charming garden space is often described as the park's jewel. It contains everything a castle family needs for their daily household, such as herbs and vegetables for the kitchen, flowers for the castle's halls, and fragrant herbs for the linen cabinets.
All of the Herb Garden's plants are grown in Egeskov’s own greenhouses. The castle runs the only functioning estate garden in Denmark. The garden is organically cultivated, with all work done by hand and using a gas burner—no pesticides have ever been used in the Herb Garden's lifetime.
Though the garden is relatively young, its style is not. The design of the Herb Garden is inspired by the Renaissance's classic kitchen gardens, as they appeared during Christian IV’s time in the 1600s. The garden includes raised beds, arched walkways, and a pond with goldfish, surrounded by roses. It was designed by the renowned garden architect C.Th. Sørensen in 1973, based on ideas from Countess Nonni. The pavilions in each corner of the garden were designed by architect Mogens Lassen.

4. The Fuchsia Garden
Egeskov has a unique collection of fuchsias. This is because the noble family at the castle has long been enchanted by the beautiful plant.
In fact, Egeskov boasts one of Europe's largest collections of fuchsias, with around 800 different varieties. While the quantity is impressive, what stands out even more is the age of many of the plants. Many of the fuchsias in the garden are over 50 years old, with some nearing 75 years!
Fuchsia has become a very popular ornamental plant in Danish gardens, appearing in thousands of hybrids with an enormous variety of flower shapes, color combinations, and growth forms. The plant originally comes from South America and has been known since the 18th century.
The flower is delicate and cannot withstand frost, which is why the entire collection is planted out every year when the castle gardener is sure that the night frosts have passed, typically between May 20 and June 1. In the autumn, the gardeners dig up the fuchsias to overwinter them in the warm and controlled environment of the greenhouses.

5. The Baroness's Garden
You will find the Baroness's Garden in a small space behind the tall hedges. It is dominated by large trees that create a beautiful balance of light and shade. Notably, there is a large, beautiful plane tree from the 1800s. The garden also thrives with hydrangeas in white shades, beautifully arranged in large clusters.
The garden was newly designed in 2022, based on an idea by Princess Alexandra.

6. The Renaissance Garden
This is a must-see for photographers! The Renaissance Garden is perhaps the most photographed area in Egeskov's extensive grounds. Its location in front of the east facade of Egeskov Castle, with the iron suspension bridge and the sparkling moat in the foreground, offers a spectacular view.
The garden was created in 1962, the same year it was opened to visitors. It was designed by the French garden architect Ferdinand Duprat under the direction of Countess Nonni. The modernization was necessary at this time, as the parterre garden in the original Baroque layout had been neglected for many years.
The main motif of the Renaissance Garden is the French lily, and the layout is classical, centered around an axis with a fountain and topiary boxwoods, with colored gravel between the hedges. Along the axis, you will find spectacularly shaped figures, including a squirrel, a peacock, spirals, and sharp pyramids.
The castle's gardeners trim these shapes every year from July 10-20, with the same precision as paper-cutting. Typically, it is the apprentice gardeners who get the honor of this task.
The observant visitor will also notice a small beetle at the base of the French lily – an artistic reference to the castle's history and the family name.

7. The Labyrinths
In your journey through Egeskov’s gardens, you’ll encounter two iconic labyrinths. The newest one is especially popular with our younger visitors and was designed by the Danish poet and author, Piet Hein. Built in the 1980s, it can even confuse the most seasoned labyrinth enthusiasts. From the elevated platform in the center, visitors can enjoy a unique view of the Egeskov grounds.
The second labyrinth is much older, dating back to the 1730s, and is attributed to Niels Krag "The Younger." This unique labyrinth is made of clipped beech hedges, and from a newer staircase platform, visitors can admire the narrow passageways. One can easily imagine the joy and fun that this adventurous design brought to past visitors.
Unfortunately, this historic labyrinth is now closed to the public due to the delicate root system. Only the park’s staff has access and carefully prunes the fine beech hedges by hand.
According to Piet Hein, the creator of the modern labyrinth, the old labyrinth at Egeskov is actually much older. Hein suggested that the labyrinth could have inspired The Maze at Hampton Court Palace in London, which was created at the end of the 1600s. Hein pointed out striking similarities between the two labyrinths and noted identical mathematical errors in both. These errors can be logically explained at Egeskov, given the surrounding land, but they remain inexplicable at the English palace—unless the design for the English maze was based on Egeskov’s plans.

This historic pavilion “Triokhi”, located at the end of the avenue by the old labyrinth, was built in 1780 by Niels Krag "The Younger’s" widow, Sophie. It was restored in 1918 under Countess Jessie and inside, you’ll find signatures from notable visitors to the castle, including Prince Knud, Queen Ingrid, Queen Margrethe II, and King Frederik X.

8. The Resting Garden 
The Resting Garden is perhaps the most hidden spot in the park. Well concealed and surrounded by tall hedges, this peaceful area reveals itself as a serene retreat. Feel free to take a break in the hammocks of the Resting Garden and let your thoughts wander.
This area was once a special place where the castle’s owners laid their beloved pets to rest. At the narrowest end of the garden, you can still see some of the memorial stones that were erected in their honor.

9. The English Garden
This landscape garden, with its large lawns and freestanding trees, is a preferred oasis for picnics and relaxation during your tour of the park. To the west, you’ll see the magnificent 19th-century plane tree, which provides shade when you wish to enjoy a picnic basket on a warm summer day.
Few places in the park offer such a majestic view of the 1500s castle building, as seen from the blanket of the lawn in this landscape garden, where you can also enjoy the sound of the trickling water from Hågerup Å.
Earlier in our garden journey, we encountered Piet Hein in the descriptions of the labyrinths at Egeskov, and his connection to the castle is impossible to ignore. He was a very close friend of the family and, at times, lived at the castle. Hein’s genius and creativity can also be seen in The English Garden, where you’ll notice the iconic superellipse in the foreground of the castle.
The superellipse or "Superegg" is one of Piet Hein’s most famous creations. He first conceived the shape and later explained the geometric figure, which has been used worldwide in the design of furniture, buildings, tables, wine glasses, plates, and even large sports arenas. The installation of the superellipse at Egeskov serves as a lasting reminder of a close family friend and a genius whose abilities and ideas reached far beyond Denmark’s borders.
Finally, in The English Garden, visitors can explore the newly designed section of the garden featuring woods and shade-loving plants. The Rhododendron Garden, covering over 1000 m², was designed by Princess Alexandra.

10. The Rhododendron Garden
Located near The English Garden, you’ll find one of the newest garden areas: The Rhododendron Garden. It blooms primarily in spring and early summer, offering a beautiful play of colors. Previously, the beds consisted of woodland with shrubs and trees.
Princess Alexandra, who is behind the plant plan and design, has thoughtfully incorporated paths and benches where visitors can take a break in the shade and enjoy the garden.

11. The scent Garden
On the former manure pile, near the estate's farm building and the current estate office, you’ll find The Fragrance Garden, which was established in 2002. Under the guidance of our castle gardener, Peter Bonde Poulsen, the garden was divided into four sections using a type of woven fencing that has, for generations, kept the farm’s livestock in check.
In this wonderful oasis, your sense of smell will truly be delighted, and all the scents and sensory impressions can be experienced here. The castle gardener himself has described: "Scents are important in a garden. More important than colors. Not least, children love to touch plants and experience them through their noses."
Feel free to use all your senses in the garden—smell, taste, and touch. The herbs can even handle a little gentle rubbing, as the gardener himself says. The four sections contain a collection of scented geraniums, including varieties from Canada, as well as herbs for the castle's kitchen. The garden boasts an impressive 180-200 different medicinal herbs, along with sloes and bog myrtle for making a strong, aromatic schnapps.

12. The Hop Garden
The hops from this garden are used in Count’s Ale from Refsvindinge Brewery, developed in collaboration with Count Michael Ahlefeldt. Count’s Ale is available in Egeskov’s shops.
Hop gardens have played a role in manor gardens, especially during periods when self-sufficiency and agriculture were important to the estates’ economy and operations. Although hop gardens were often established in fields outside the main manor garden, they were still part of the broader agricultural landscape that the estates controlled.
Hop gardens have a long history in Denmark. They originated as part of the medieval agricultural culture, where hops were an essential ingredient for brewing beer—a drink that was central to daily life. Beer was once as much a staple as bread. It was consumed by all social classes, as it was often safer to drink than water. Hops acted as a preservative and gave the beer a bitter taste, making it more durable and flavorful.

13. The Water Garden
The lovely Water Garden invites romantic moments, while children and young visitors can lie on their stomachs and admire the eel population that slithers beneath the Monet-inspired bridge from Ginervy. The garden's many insects and water creatures are worth studying, especially for younger guests.
The Water Garden is a place to relax and enjoy an immediate sense of happiness and tranquility. On a hot summer day, when sweat is trickling down your forehead, it’s recommended to seek refuge in this little oasis, the garden’s cool respite. The water from the moat flows gently through the garden before being channeled into Hågerup Å.
The small waterfall once powered a turbine that provided direct current for the estate’s operations. The Water Garden is a shady place for both people and plants. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and various perennials thrive here, all enjoying acidic soil and refreshing shade.
The design and planting plan for the Water Garden were done by Princess Alexandra.

14. The Sun Garden
When you move through the Garden of Life, you will finally reach the Sun Garden in the center. This beautiful garden space is inspired by the rhythm of the sun and day. The colors shift according to the sun’s light, moving from the bright yellows of the morning to the darker reds of the evening.
In the center of the Sun Garden, you’ll find another unique creation from Piet Hein’s body of work: the Heins Sundial, which serves as the focal point of the garden. The Sun Garden was designed by Princess Alexandra, who also created the planting plan.

15. The Garden of Life
This garden symbolizes the passage of life and the rhythm of the seasons. It is shaped by the idea of peace, reflection, and a harmonious stimulation of the senses. It offers a sensory experience through forms, plants, colors, and fragrances, guiding you through the seasons, life’s journey, and the five senses. The changing colors of the garden illustrate the seasons in every other section.
The Garden of Life was established in 2015, following the ideas and design of castle gardener Peter Bonde Poulsen and Count Michael. The planting plans were created by selected invited garden designers. The garden was created in a space where, previously, a circular labyrinth designed by Piet Hein in yew had stood, but which had to be reimagined due to disease.

16. The White Garden
This garden was originally created in 1999, inspired by one of England’s most famous gardens, Sissinghurst Castle Garden. In 2020, the garden was redesigned as a classic Renaissance garden with symmetrical beds and low boxwood hedges. It is a midsummer garden, with delicate white and cream-colored tones that capture the clear Scandinavian summer atmosphere, accompanied by the songs of nightingales and bright nights.
The fragrance from the many versatile flowers creates an extraordinary and delightful experience in this garden space—so be sure to take a deep breath and enjoy the soothing impressions.

Brasserie Garden
Moving from the White Garden around the building, you can explore the flower beds that envelop Brasserie Rigborg, creating space and room for a sensory experience of scents and colors. The surrounding beds feature the fragrances of herbs and various types of sage.

The White Garden and the beds around the brasserie were designed by Princess Alexandra, who also created the planting plan.

17. The Rose Garden
Like a lightning bolt from a cloudless night sky, the castle gardener realized how the existing Rose Garden should be designed and arranged. Castle gardener Peter Bonde Poulsen grabbed his pencil and compass, and by early morning, he had created a rough sketch for this magnificent garden.
The Rose Garden was established in 2004, near the former barn courtyard, as part of the castle's 450th anniversary celebrations. The design is based on a Maltese cross, where more than 100 different types of roses can be found. The beds are arranged in circular patterns, bordered by low boxwood hedges. Each bed is dedicated to a specific type of rose.
The selection of roses is extensive, featuring climbing roses, historical roses, large-flowered roses, English roses, Danish-produced roses, small-flowered roses, and ground-cover roses. The roses bloom from mid-June and reach their peak of incomparable beauty the following month.