Sorø Academy (

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...

, ''Sorø Akademi'') is a

boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. As they have existed for many centuries, and now exten ...

and gymnasium located in the small town of

Sorø Sorø () is a town in Sorø municipality in Region Sjælland on the island of Zealand (''Sjælland'') in east Denmark. The population is 7,999 (2022).

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

. It traces its history back to the 12th century when Bishop

Absalon Absalon (21 March 1201) was a Danish statesman and prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the bishop of Roskilde from 1158 to 1192 and archbishop of Lund from 1178 until his death. He was the foremost politician and church father of Denm ...

founded a monastery at the site, which was confiscated by the Crown after the

Reformation The Reformation (alternatively named the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation) was a major movement within Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the Catholic Church and in ...

, and ever since, on and off, it has served as an educational institution, in a variety of forms, including as a

knight academy Knight academies were first established in Western European states in the late 16th century. They prepared aristocratic youth for state and military service. It added to the hitherto rudimentary education of the aristocratic youth natural science, ...

founded by

Christian IV Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the longest of Danish monarchs and Scandinavian monar ...

and a venue for higher learning during the

Danish Golden Age The Danish Golden Age ( da, Den danske guldalder) covers a period of exceptional creative production in Denmark, especially during the first half of the 19th century.Kulturnet DanmarkGuide to the Danish Golden Age Although Copenhagen had suffered ...

. Danish writer and academian

Ludvig Holberg Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg (3 December 1684 – 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian dual monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, ...

bequested most of his fortune to re-establishing the academy in 1750 after a devastating fire.

History

Christian IV's equestrian academy (1623–1665)

Resens Atlas fra 1677 over Sorø Akademies bygninger

Sorø Academy traces its history back to 1140 when Archbishop

founded the

Cistercian The Cistercians, () officially the Order of Cistercians ( la, (Sacer) Ordo Cisterciensis, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Saint ...

Sorø Abbey Sorø Abbey was the preeminent and wealthiest monastic house in all of Denmark during the Middle Ages. It was located in the town of Sorø in central Zealand. After Denmark became Lutheran in 1536, the abbey was confiscated by the Crown. The a ...

in a remote woodlands setting on the shores of Lake Sorø on the island of

Zealand Zealand ( da, Sjælland ) at 7,031 km2 is the largest and most populous island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 January 2020. It is the 1 ...

. It developed into the most prominent and wealthy monastery in Denmark. After the

in 1536, the Crown confiscated the Catholic Church's properties and the former abbey served first as an educational institution for

Protestant Protestantism is a Christian denomination, branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Reformation, Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century agai ...

priests before Frederick II turned it into a boarding school for an equal number of noble and commoner boys. Sorø Academy was founded in 1623 when

turned the boarding school into an Equestrian Academy. Later attempts were made to transform it into a university proper but it only existed as such for about 20 years before closing in 1665.

Second academy: The Holberg era (1747–1793)

Sorø Academy - Lauritz de Thurah Building

After the closure the premises continued as a school until 1737. Efforts were made to reestablish the academy and around 1740, under the reign of

Christian VI Christian VI (30 November 1699 – 6 August 1746) was King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746. The eldest surviving son of Frederick IV and Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, he is considered one of Denmark-Norway's more anonymous kings, bu ...

, the old buildings were rebuilt by

Lauritz de Thurah Laurids Lauridsen de Thurah, known as Lauritz de Thurah (4 March 1706 – 5 September 1759), was a Danish architect and architectural writer. He became the most important Danish architect of the late baroque period. As an architectural writer ...

, yet the plans did not materialize until

, who had no heirs, was persuaded to bequest his considerable fortune to the institution. The agreement which was ultimately settled upon exempted Holberg from paying taxes from the proceeds of his lands and to reach this end he was ennobled with title of

Baron Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...

. Holberg was also consulted on the organization of the academy and the appointment of professors. Jens Schielderup Sneedorff was appointed professor in political sciences on his recommendation in 1751.

Golden Age venue

Frederik Christian Kiaerskou - Sorø Academy

The main wing burnt down in a fire in 1813 but was rebuilt from 1822 to 1827 to the design of Peder Malling. In 1825, before the rebuilding had been completed, the Sorø Academy reopened once again. Over the next decades it became a central venue of the

with

Bernhard Severin Ingemann Bernhard Severin Ingemann (28 May 1789 – 24 February 1862) was a Danish novelist and poet. Biography Ingemann was born in Torkilstrup, on the island of Falster, Denmark. The son of a vicar, he was left fatherless in his youth. While a s ...

as a central figure. Both

N. F. S. Grundtvig Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig (; 8 September 1783 – 2 September 1872), most often referred to as N. F. S. Grundtvig, was a Danish pastor, author, poet, philosopher, historian, teacher and politician. He was one of the most influential pe ...

Hans Christian Andersen Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales. Andersen's fairy tales, consisti ...

and Bertel Thorvaldsen visited the Academy during this period.

Buildings

Main wing and gardens

The current main wing is designed by Peder Malling in a

Neoclassical style Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing sty ...

which relies more on Greek than Roman architecture for its inspiration. It interior has decorative works by

Georg Hilker Georg Hilker (5 June 1807 – 13 January 1875) was a Danish decorative painter active during the Danish Golden Age in the first half of the 19th century. He collaborated with painter Constantin Hansen (1804–1880). Early life and career Hilk ...

. The Academy is surrounded by an English-style park known as the Academy Garden. Located in the park is the ''Vænget'' building which contains Adam Wilhelm Hauch's ''Physical Cabinet'', one of the largest collections of scientific instruments in Europe.

Chapel

The conventual church is an example of Cistercian craftsmanship. It is the third longest church in Denmark, and is one of the first Danish churches built of

brick A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...

. The

whitewashed the traditional decorations of the church; recently the ancient murals have been uncovered and in part restored. Holberg is buried in the church, as are King

Valdemar Atterdag Valdemar IV Atterdag (the epithet meaning "Return of the Day"), or Waldemar (132024 October 1375) was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375. He is mostly known for his reunion of Denmark after the bankruptcy and mortgaging of the country to finance ...

(1340–1375) and his father King Christopher II (1276–1332).

Other buildings

The gatehouse is the oldest inhabited building in Denmark today. It is where

Saxo Grammaticus Saxo Grammaticus (c. 1150 – c. 1220), also known as Saxo cognomine Longus, was a Danish historian, theologian and author. He is thought to have been a clerk or secretary to Absalon, Archbishop of Lund, the main advisor to Valdemar I of Denmark. ...

wrote the famous

chronicle A chronicle ( la, chronica, from Greek ''chroniká'', from , ''chrónos'' – "time") is a historical account of events arranged in chronological order, as in a timeline. Typically, equal weight is given for historically important events and lo ...

s '

Gesta Danorum ''Gesta Danorum'' ("Deeds of the Danes") is a patriotic work of Danish history, by the 12th-century author Saxo Grammaticus ("Saxo the Literate", literally "the Grammarian"). It is the most ambitious literary undertaking of medieval Denmark an ...

', a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

historical work recounting the early Christian history of Scandinavia. Two former professor's residences, today known as Molbech's House and Ingemann's House, survived the fire in 1813 and date from

's rebuilding of the Academy in 1740. The old well, stemming from the original abbey, was in 1915 topped by a well house designed by

Martin Nyrop Martin Nyrop (11 November 1849 18 May 1921) was a Danish architect. Early life and education Nyrop was born on 11 November 1849 at Holmsland, Ringkøbing, the son of parish priest Christopher Nyrop (1805–1879) and Helene Ahlmann (1807–1874). ...

, one of the schools former students. Other buildings are the Rector's House, the ''Alumnatet'' and the Library Building.

Sorø Academy today

The school

The current school has 630 students, of which 140 are boarders and the rest day students from Sorø,

Ringsted Ringsted is a city located centrally in the Danish island of Zealand. It is the seat of a municipality of the same name. Ringsted is situated approximately 60 km from Copenhagen. Tourism and transport Ringsted is one of Denmark's busiest ...

and the surrounding countryside.

Collections

The library has a large collection of old and rare books. Wilhelm Hauch's physical'' Physical Cabinet'', one of the largest collections of scientific instruments in Europe.

Sorø Academy Foundation

Sorø Academy Foundation (''Stiftelsen Sorø Akademi'') owns approximately 6000 hectares of land, mainly covered by forest. The foundation also owns a number of properties in the town of Sorø including Sorø Klosterkirke.

Notable people

Former staff

* Reinhold Timm (1623), painter *

Abraham Wuchters Abraham Wuchters (1608 – 23 May 1682) was a Brabant-born Dutch- Danish painter and engraver. He was born in Antwerp but had most of his career in Denmark where he and Karel van Mander III became the preferred painters of the Danish King, no ...

(1639), painter *

Johann Elias Schlegel Johann Elias Schlegel (January 17, 1719 – August 13, 1749) was a German critic and dramatic poet. Life Schlegel was born in Meissen. He was educated at Schulpforta and at the University of Leipzig, where he studied law. In 1743 he became p ...

(1748-1749), history, political sciences, trade sciences * Jens Schielderup Sneedorff (1751), political sciences *

Johann Bernhard Basedow Johann Bernhard Basedow (11 September 1724 – 25 July 1790) was a German educational reformer, teacher and writer. He founded the Philanthropinum, a short-lived but influential progressive school in Dessau, and was the author of "''Elementarwe ...

(1753), moral philosophy *

Ove Høegh-Guldberg Ove Høegh-Guldberg (born ''Guldberg''; 1 September 1731 – 7 February 1808) was a Danish statesman, historian, and ''de facto'' prime minister of Denmark during the reign of the mentally unstable King Christian VII. Biography Guldber ...

(1761–1764), statesman, historian, and de facto prime minister * Johan Theodor Holmskjold (1762–1765), medicine and natural history *

(1822), Danish literature *

Frederik Johnstrup Johannes Frederik Johnstrup (12 March 1818– 31 December 1894) was a Danish professor, geologist and paleontologist. He was the founder of the Danish scientific periodical ''Meddelelser om Grønland''. Biography Johnstrup was born at Chr ...

(1818–1894), mineralogy, natural science *

Christen Dalsgaard Christen Dalsgaard (30 October 1824 – 11 February 1907) was a Danish painter, a late student of Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg. Biography Early life and education Christen Dalsgaard was born on 30 October 1824. He was the son of the own ...

(1862–1892), painter * Aage Blumensaadt (1889-1939), painter

Former students

* Ulrik of Denmark (1611–1633), administrator of the

Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin The Diocese and Prince-bishopric of Schwerin was a Catholic diocese in Schwerin, Mecklenburg, in Germany. The first registered bishop was ordained in the diocese in 1053, and the diocese ceased to exist in 1994. Pre-Reformation Catholic (prince- ...

, military * Esaias Fleischer (1633–1697), printmaker

Students after 1825

Hinrich Johannes Rink Dr. Hinrich Johannes Rink (first name sometimes as Henrik) (26 August 1819 – 15 December 1893) was a Danish geologist, one of the pioneers of glaciology, and the first accurate describer of the inland ice of Greenland. Rink, who first came to ...

, geologist *

Frederik Vermehren Johan Frederik (Frits) Nikolai Vermehren, also known as Frederik Vermehren (12 May 1823 – 10 January 1910), a genre and portrait painter in the realist style. His artistic career took place during the period of Danish art known as the Golden ...

, painter * Carl Steen Andersen Bille, journalist, politician and civil servant *

Fredrik Bajer Fredrik Bajer (21 April 1837 – 22 January 1922) was a Danish writer, teacher, and pacifist politician who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1908 together with Klas Pontus Arnoldson. Life He was son of a clergyman born in Næstved in 1837. Baje ...

(student 1848-54, did not graduate) * H.R. Hiort-Lorenzen, journalist and writer * Christian Henrik Arendrup, governor of the

Danish West Indies The Danish West Indies ( da, Dansk Vestindien) or Danish Antilles or Danish Virgin Islands were a Danish colonization of the Americas, Danish colony in the Caribbean, consisting of the islands of Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Saint Thomas ...

(attended 1859–1865), architect *

Kristian Zahrtmann Peder Henrik Kristian Zahrtmann, known as Kristian Zahrtmann, (31 March 1843 – 22 June 1917) was a Denmark, Danish Painting, painter. He was a part of the Danish artistic generation in the late 19th century, along with Peder Severin Krøyer and ...

, painter *

Hans Egede Budtz Hans Egede Budtz (8 August 1889 – 29 June 1968) was a Danish stage and film actor. Early life and education Born in Slagelse, Zealand, he was the son of Carl Budtz and Alvida Marie Budtz (''née'' Svendsen). He studied at the Sorø Acade ...

, actor *

Herman Bang Herman Joachim Bang (20 April 1857 – 29 January 1912) was a Danish journalist and author, one of the men of the Modern Breakthrough. Biography Bang was born in Asserballe, on the small Danish island of Als, the son of a South Jutlandic vicar ...

, writer * Poul Rasmusen, politician *

Sigurd Langberg Sigurd Bengt Langberg (29 October 1897 – 8 July 1954) was a Danish stage and film actor. He was married to actress Karna Langberg and was the father of actors Ebbe and Jesper Langberg. Filmography *''Han, hun og Hamlet'' (1922) *'' Ole Op ...

, actor *

Ebbe Hamerik Ebbe Hamerik (5 September 1898 – 12 August 1951) was a Danish composer. Born in Frederiksberg, he was the son of composer Asger Hamerik. He died at the age of 52 in Kattegat when his sailboat sank and he drowned. Notable operas include ''S ...

, composer *

Hans Kirk Hans Kirk (11 January 1898 – 16 June 1962) was a Danish lawyer, journalist and celebrated author, who penned the best-selling novel of all-time in his native Denmark, '' The Fishermen'' (1928). From 1926 to 1928 he was among the contributors of ...

, writer *

Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen (November 29, 1900 – March 24, 1938) was a Faroese writer. He has a distinct place in Scandinavian literature, as he is the only Faroese writer to achieve international best-seller status. This status derives ...

, writer * Aage Kann Rasmussen, engineer *

Ove Arup Sir Ove Nyquist Arup, CBE, MICE, MIStructE, FCIOB (16 April 1895 – 5 February 1988) was an English engineer who founded Arup Group Limited, a multinational corporation that offers engineering, design, planning, project management, and ...

, structural engineer * Erik Seidenfaden, journalist *

Gunnar Seidenfaden Gunnar Seidenfaden (1908 – February 9, 2001) was a Danish diplomat and botanist. He was Danish ambassador in Thailand 1955–1959, and in the U.S.S.R. 1959–1961. He was an expert on Southeast Asia Orchidaceae. He published several multi-volum ...

, diplomat and botanist, * Mogens Boisen, officer and translator * Dan Fink, businessman * Villum Kann Rasmussen, engineer *

Hans Engell Hans Engell (born 8 October 1948) is a Denmark, Danish former politician and journalist, who until 6 September 2007 was the editor-in-chief of the tabloid ''Ekstra Bladet'', a position he had held for seven years. As a member of the Conservative Pe ...

, journalist, politician * Hans Ole Thers, composer * Christian Karsten Hansen, biotechnology entrepreneur * Trygvi Samuelsen, lawyer Other Danes associated with the Academy include 19th-century painters

and

, writer

, sculptor

Johannes Wiedewelt Johannes Wiedewelt (1 July 1731 – 17 December 1802), Danish neoclassical sculptor. He became a court sculptor, introducing neoclassical ideals to Denmark in the form of palace decorations, garden sculptures and artifacts and, especially, mem ...

who created the monument to Holberg in the Academy chapel, and geologist

References

External links

Sorø Akademi website

Stiftelsen Sorø Akademi website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Soro Academy Gymnasiums in Denmark Listed buildings and structures in Sorø Municipality 1625 establishments in Denmark Tourist attractions in Sorø Municipality Ludvig Holberg