Sorø Academy ( Danish: ''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. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...

and gymnasium located in the small town of

Sorø Sorø () is a town in Sorø municipality on the island of Zealand (Denmark), Zealand in east Denmark with a population of 8,433 (2025).

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

. 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 De ...

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

Reformation The Reformation, also known as the Protestant Reformation or the European Reformation, was a time of major Theology, theological movement in Western Christianity in 16th-century Europe that posed a religious and political challenge to the p ...

, 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 and 330 days is the longest in Scandinavian history. A member of the H ...

and a venue for higher learning during the

Danish Golden Age The Danish Golden Age () 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 from fires, Battle of Co ...

. Danish-Norwegian 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 Denmark–Norway, Dano–Norwegian dual monarchy. He was infl ...

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

History

Christian IV's equestrian academy (1623–1665)

Sorø Academy traces its history back to 1140 when Archbishop

founded the

Cistercian The Cistercians (), officially the Order of Cistercians (, 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 Benedict, as well as the contri ...

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 ...

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

Zealand Zealand ( ) is the largest and most populous islands of Denmark, island in Denmark proper (thus excluding Greenland and Disko Island, which are larger in size) at 7,031 km2 (2715 sq. mi.). Zealand had a population of 2,319,705 on 1 Januar ...

. 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 branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

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)

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, 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 write ...

, 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 title, hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than ...

. 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

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 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 p ...

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

and

Bertel Thorvaldsen Albert Bertel Thorvaldsen (; sometimes given as Thorwaldsen; 19 November 1770 – 24 March 1844) was a Danes, Danish-Icelanders, Icelandic Sculpture, sculptor and medallist, medalist of international fame, who spent most of his life (1797–183 ...

visited the Academy during this period.

Buildings

Main wing and gardens

The current main wing is designed by Peder Malling in a

Neoclassical style Neoclassicism, also spelled Neo-classicism, emerged as a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassici ...

which relies more on Greek than Roman architecture for its inspiration. It interior has decorative works by Georg Hilker. 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 construction material used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a unit primarily composed of clay. But is now also used informally to denote building un ...

. 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 (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 (), 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. He is the author ...

wrote the famous

chronicle A chronicle (, 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 local events ...

s '

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 and is an essentia ...

', a

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

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 Municipality, Holmsland, Ringkøbing, the son of parish priest Christopher Nyrop (1805–1879) and Helen ...

, 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 from Copenhagen. History Ringsted was the site of ''Sjællands Landsting'' (lit. ''Z ...

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 Sorø Klosterkirke (i.e. ''Sorø Abbey Church'') is a church located in the Denmark, Danish town of Sorø. It was founded by Danish archbishop Absalon and built by Cistercians in the period from 1161 to 1201. It is made of red brick, which was a ...

Notable people

Former staff

* Reinhold Timm (1623), painter *

Abraham Wuchters Abraham Wuchters (1608 – 23 May 1682) was a Duchy of Brabant, Brabant-born Netherlands, Dutch-Denmark, 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 pr ...

(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 "''Elementar ...

(1753), moral philosophy * Ove Høegh-Guldberg (1761–1764), statesman, historian, and de facto prime minister * Johan Theodor Holmskjold (1762–1765), medicine and natural history * Bernhard Severin Ingemann (1822), Danish literature * Frederik Johnstrup (1818–1894), mineralogy, natural science * Christen Dalsgaard (1862–1892), painter * Aage Blumensaadt (1889-1939), painter

Former students

* Ulrik of Denmark (1611–1633),

administrator Administrator or admin may refer to: Job roles Computing and internet * Database administrator, a person who is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database * Forum administrator, one who oversees discussions on an Internet forum * N ...

of the Prince-Bishopric of Schwerin, military * Esaias Fleischer (1633–1697), printmaker

Students after 1825

* Hinrich Johannes Rink, geologist * Frederik Vermehren, painter * Carl Steen Andersen Bille, journalist, politician and civil servant *

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

(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 () or Danish Virgin Islands () or Danish Antilles were a Danish colony in the Caribbean, consisting of the islands of Saint Thomas with , Saint John () with , Saint Croix with , and Water Island. The islands of St ...

(attended 1859–1865), architect *

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

, 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, writer * Poul Rasmusen, politician * Sigurd Langberg, actor * Ebbe Hamerik, composer * Hans Kirk, writer * Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, writer * Aage Kann Rasmussen, engineer *

Ove Arup Sir Ove Nyquist Arup (16 April 1895 – 5 February 1988) was an English engineer who founded Arup Group Limited, a multinational corporation offering engineering, design, planning, project management, and consultant, consulting services for bu ...

, structural engineer * Erik Seidenfaden, journalist *

Gunnar Seidenfaden Gunnar Seidenfaden (1908 – 9 February 2001) was a Denmark, Danish diplomat and botanist. He was Denmark, 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 sev ...

, diplomat and botanist, * Mogens Boisen, officer and translator * Dan Fink, businessman * Villum Kann Rasmussen, engineer * Hans Engell, journalist, politician * Hans Ole Thers, composer * Christian Karsten Hansen, biotechnology entrepreneur *

Trygvi Samuelsen Samuel Georg Trygve Samuelsen (September 16, 1907 – February 19, 1985) was a Faroese lawyer and politician in the Faroese Union Party. Life Samuelsen was born in Fuglafjørður i 1907, the son of Andrass Samuelsen and Beate Emilie Lindenskov ...

, lawyer * Lars Faaborg-Andersen, ambassador * Eigil Nielsen, paleontologist Other Danes associated with the Academy include 19th-century painters Frederik Vermehren and Christen Dalsgaard, 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, m ...

who created the monument to Holberg in the Academy chapel, and geologist Hinrich Johannes Rink.

References

External links

Sorø Akademi website

Stiftelsen Sorø Akademi website

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