Lerchenborg
Near Kalundborg, Sjælland

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The estate was purchased in 1742 by general Christian Lerche and the house was built 1743-4 in the late Baroque/Rococo style of the times.  It is believed to have been designed by the general in collaboration with Nicolai Eigtved (architect of Amalienborg, the royal palace in Copenhagen). The whole complex of park, main building and wings, courtyard and massive ranges of home farm buildings were completed in accordance with the strict symmetrical principles of the Baroque. (Picture from the air at Lerchenborg's website)

The white-washed main building is seventeen bays long with a three-bay central projection with a triangular pediment and corner projections of two bays. The garden side is basically of the same pattern. All the projections have rococo decorations above. There are two entrances, one in the centre of each half of the facade. The interior is very much in the rococo style.

The two identical and symmetrical wings are lower than the main building but also have central pediments with rococo decorations. The hipped roofs on all three buildings are of slate, although originally they had red tiles.

The house is still owned by the Lerche family. Hans Christian Andersen visited in 1862 - more about his visits here and at other manor houses.