Sorø Academy ( Danish, ''Sorø Akademi'') is a boarding school and gymnasium located in the small town of Sorø,

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 = Kingdom of Denmark , establishe ...

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

, and ever since, on and off, it has served as an educational institution, in a variety of forms, including as a knight academy founded by Christian IV and a venue for higher learning during the Danish Golden Age. Danish writer and academian Ludvig Holberg 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 Absalon 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 Sain ...

Sorø Abbey 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 th ...

. 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 Christian IV 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, ...

, the old buildings were rebuilt by Lauritz de Thurah, yet the plans did not materialize until Ludvig Holberg, 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. Holberg was also consulted on the organization of the academy and the appointment of professors.

Jens Schielderup Sneedorff Jens Schielderup Sneedorff (22 August 1724 – 5 June 1764) was a Danish author, professor of political science and royal teacher and a central figure in Denmark in the Age of Enlightenment. Biography Sneedorff was born in Sorø, the son of the ...

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 Danish Golden Age with Bernhard Severin Ingemann as a central figure. Both N. F. S. Grundtvig,

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, consist ...

and

Bertel Thorvaldsen Bertel Thorvaldsen (; 19 November 1770 – 24 March 1844) was a Danish and Icelandic sculptor medalist of international fame, who spent most of his life (1797–1838) in Italy. Thorvaldsen was born in Copenhagen into a working-class Dani ...

visited the Academy during this period.

Buildings

Main wing and gardens

The current main wing is designed by Peder Malling in a Neoclassical style 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 Hi ...

. 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. 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 (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 Denma ...

wrote the famous chronicles ' Gesta Danorum', 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 period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...

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 Lauritz de Thurah'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 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 located in the 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 new material for th ...

Notable people

Former staff

Reinhold Timm Reinhold Timm (died 12 January 1639) was a Danish painter. From 1619 he participated in the decoration in the Long Hall at Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen with 7 or 8 large allegorical paintings of which only one, ''Unge mænd brydes på en bro'', ...

(1623), painter * Abraham Wuchters (1639), painter * Johann Elias Schlegel (1748-1749), history, political sciences, trade sciences *

(1751), political sciences * Johann Bernhard Basedow (1753), moral philosophy * Ove Høegh-Guldberg (1761–1764), statesman, historian, and de facto prime minister *

Johan Theodor Holmskjold Johan Theodor Holmskiold (14 June 1731 – 15 September 1793) was a Danish noble, botanist, courtier and administrator. He was noted for his scientific work with fungi and development of the Charlottenborg Botanical Garden. His career included wo ...

(1762–1765), medicine and natural history * Bernhard Severin Ingemann (1822), Danish literature * Frederik Johnstrup (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 ow ...

(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 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 Gold ...

, painter *

Carl Steen Andersen Bille Carl may refer to: * Carl, Georgia, city in USA * Carl, West Virginia, an unincorporated community *Carl (name), includes info about the name, variations of the name, and a list of people with the name * Carl², a TV series * "Carl", an episode of ...

, 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. Baj ...

(student 1848-54, did not graduate) * H.R. Hiort-Lorenzen, journalist and writer *

Christian Henrik Arendrup Christian Henrik Arendrup (25 March 1837 – 1913) was Governor-General of the Danish West Indies from 1881 to 1893. Biography Arendrup was born at Frederikshavn in Jutland, Denmark. He was the son of Christian Rasmus Arendrup, councilor of Fye ...

, governor of the

Danish West Indies The Danish West Indies ( da, Dansk Vestindien) or Danish Antilles or Danish Virgin Islands were a Danish colony in the Caribbean, consisting of the islands of Saint Thomas with ; Saint John ( da, St. Jan) with ; and Saint Croix with . The ...

(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 Esbern Phi ...

, painter * Hans Egede Budtz, actor * Herman Bang, writer *

Poul Rasmusen Poul is a Danish masculine given name. It is the Danish cognate of the name Paul. Poul may refer to: People * Poul Andersen (1922–2006), Danish printer * Poul Anderson (1926–2001), American writer * Poul Erik Andreasen (born 1949), Danish f ...

, politician * Sigurd Langberg, actor * Ebbe Hamerik, composer * Hans Kirk, writer * Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, writer * Aage Kann Rasmussen, engineer * Ove Arup, structural engineer * Erik Seidenfaden, journalist * Gunnar Seidenfaden, diplomat and botanist, *

Mogens Boisen Mogens is a Danish masculine given name (specifically Danish shake-up of Magnus), and may refer to: * Mogens Ballin, Danish artist, one of a group of painters who gathered in the Breton village of Pont-Aven *Mogens Berg (born 1944), Danish former ...

, officer and translator *

Dan Fink Dan or DAN may refer to: People * Dan (name), including a list of people with the name ** Dan (king), several kings of Denmark * Dan people, an ethnic group located in West Africa ** Dan language, a Mande language spoken primarily in Côte d'Iv ...

, businessman * Villum Kann Rasmussen, engineer * Hans Engell, journalist, politician *

Hans Ole Thers Hans may refer to: __NOTOC__ People * Hans (name), a masculine given name * Hans Raj Hans, Indian singer and politician ** Navraj Hans, Indian singer, actor, entrepreneur, cricket player and performer, son of Hans Raj Hans ** Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi ...

, composer *

Christian Karsten Hansen Christian Karsten Hansen (born 18 August 1966) is a Danish biotechnology entrepreneur, investor and inventor, with work in new drugs, molecular biology and biochemistry. Personal background Originally from Copenhagen (Denmark), he spent his chi ...

, 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 Other Danes associated with the Academy include 19th-century painters

and

, writer

, sculptor Johannes Wiedewelt 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 Listed buildings and structures in Sorø Municipality 1625 establishments in Denmark Tourist attractions in Sorø Municipality Ludvig Holberg