Selsø Slot

About the museum

Selsø lies on the Hornsherred peninsula near Roskilde Fjord. As early as the Middle Ages a smaller fortified complex stood here, probably from the late 13th century, when the estate belonged to the Diocese of Roskilde; a large stone well in the courtyard dates from that time. In the 1570s, the Privy Councillor Jakob Ulfeldt the Elder had a new manor house built, which at that time lay on an island in a lake connected to the fjord.

After the Ulfeldt family sold it in 1624, the owners changed until Berthe Skeel acquired the estate in 1682. Through her niece Charlotte Amelia Skeel it passed around 1721 to Christian Ludvig von Plessen, who had the house remodeled in the Baroque style; of the Renaissance building only the outer walls and cellar vaults remained. Painted paneling, decorated floors and paintings by the court painter Hendrick Krock have characterized the rooms ever since.

From 1829 the manor house was no longer inhabited and fell into disrepair; it served as a granary, pheasantry, dog kennel and drying loft. In 1972 Bernhard Linder and Grethe Gunnar Nielsen began a careful restoration, and a year later Selsø opened as a museum. Since 1995 the estate has belonged to the foundation Den Plessenske Selsø Fond and is run as an independent institution.

Visitors experience the manor deliberately in the state of a forgotten 19th-century house – with Baroque hall, Empire room, tapestries, kitchen and cellar – and can then explore the surrounding natural area in the Skjoldungernes Land National Park.

Highlights

• Baroque hall with paintings by Hendrick Krock
• Manor house in the state of a house abandoned since 1829
• Sunday tours in summer and family tours during the holidays
• Workshop, dress-up and a search game for children
• Located in the Skjoldungernes Land National Park on Roskilde Fjord
• Classical concerts in the Baroque hall

Permanent exhibitions

• Herregården Selsø – Tour through the Baroque manor with Baroque hall, Empire room with tapestries, kitchen and cellar vaults, shown as a house abandoned since 1829, and stories about residents and servants.

Founded

1973

Operated by

Den Plessenske Selsø Fond (selbstständige Institution)

Admission & discounts

The café is accessible even without an admission ticket. Daycare centers and schools from the Frederikssund municipality have free admission during opening hours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The house is deliberately shown in its 1829 state; access is therefore not accessible.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations

Children solve a search game in the house in which objects in the rooms form a solution word. In the basement there is a workshop with old hand tools, on the second floor historical costumes for dressing up (from the end of May) and in the kitchen coloring pages. Outside, an explorer trail along the avenue leads to hut building and wooden bridges; a picnic house is ready.

Getting there & parking

By bicycle via the Fjordstien (Route 40) or the Pontoppidanruten, reachable from Skibby, Skuldelev or Østby.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Café with cake, ice cream, local drinks and hot drinks, also usable without a museum visit; shop with souvenirs. Dogs are welcome on the grounds, but not in the main building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Meeting room in the Porthuset for up to 12 people (from 2 hours), Baroque hall for meetings outside opening hours; catering and a short tour can be added. The castle is also rented by the hour or day as a film and photo location.

Plan your visit