Kalø Castle Ruin

Østjylland, Djursland · Denmark · Castle ruin

Seven years of tax revenue lies buried in the islet, guarded by a dragon whose tail can sometimes be seen moving in the grass.

Around 1313 King Erik Menved raised this fortress on a twenty-metre islet in Kalø Bay, one of several royal castles built to crush the Jutish peasant risings. It soon served as a prison too; among its captives was the young Gustav Vasa. Legend says a treasure equal to seven years of tax revenue lies buried in the islet, guarded by a great dragon whose tail is occasionally glimpsed. Another tale tells of a long siege when only one cow and one pig were left inside the walls: the cow was led to the well again and again, each time draped in the hide of a slaughtered beast, and the pig was prodded so it squealed all day, until the besiegers believed the stores were endless and withdrew. Today you reach it along a 500-year-old cobbled causeway.

FAQ

Where is Kalø Castle Ruin located?

Kalø Castle Ruin is in Østjylland, Djursland, Denmark.

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Accounts are drawn from local folklore and visitor reports.

Image: Sebastian Nils / CC BY-SA 3.0 — Wikimedia Commons