About Bramstrup

Bramstrup is located just south of Odense as a whole of 4 km2 around a well-preserved cultural and historical environment. The area is characterized by the varied landscape of the Ice Age along Lindved Ådal and by a large castle complex from the late Middle Ages. With its roots in this rich natural and cultural heritage, Bramstrup has increasingly become an innovative place with a focus on cultural activities for a larger audience. Bramstrup's business also consists of residential and commercial rental as well as rental of land for agricultural production, including a number of specialty crops.

Bramstrup's development has been driven by the barn's unique acoustics and beautiful spaces. In recent years, the site's potential has become even more visible through the creation of a new 50-hectare parkland and the formation of many new collaborative relationships.

A slice through Danish history

Stone Age

The Old and New Stone Ages are represented through the discovery of stone axes in several places at Bramstrup.

Bronze Age

From the subsequent Bronze Age, cooking pits, sacrificial finds and burial mounds have been found.

Iron Age and Viking Age

New archaeological investigations have revealed houses from the Iron Age near Bramstrup's farm, and in the same area, remains of a village from the Viking Age have been found, probably established as a settlement (emigrant village).

Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, the village was abandoned due to plague or in connection with the late medieval castle complex, which is one of Denmark's largest preserved moat complexes. The complex is attributed to Mikkel Brockenhuus, who received the deed to Bramstrup in 1505.

Baroque

A new Baroque main building was built in 1689, partly on the foundations of the original castle. The architect was Ernst Brandenburg, who later also designed Clausholm near Randers.

Classicism

In the period 1830-50 Bramstrup is characterized by classicism. HC Andersen visits Bramstrup, and a romantic canal garden is created. "At Bramstrup where Waltz was, I had fun and I stayed there, for a short time, the old Andersen. We played comedy, made jokes and had a great time." Quote by HC Andersen.

Carl Nielsen

In the early 1870s, an 8-9 year old Carl Nielsen looked after the geese at Bramstrup, and many years later, as a world-famous composer, he described, among other things, the strong impressions of nature from his childhood in his memoir "My Funen Childhood".

"Every morning very early I went down to Bramstrup and drove a large flock of geese a long way to some swamps... Here I could find a willow and cut myself a flute" - From the CARL Theatre Concert after Carl Nielsen "My Funen Childhood"

Industrialization

During the beginning of the industrialization of agriculture, a new and technologically groundbreaking breeding farm was built outside the rampart in 1936, where orchards were planted and plant breeding experiments were conducted. In connection with the construction of the new breeding farm, the old breeding farm inside the rampart was demolished in the years around 1937.

Knowledge Center for Agriculture and Food

In 1995, the newly developed GPS technology was introduced into agriculture, and the Bramstrup Knowledge Center was formed in collaboration with a number of research and agricultural companies. The extensive pioneering work led to international collaborations such as the Future Farm project, Open Space events, etc.

Bramstrup Performing Arts

When the December hurricane in 1999 destroyed the farm's old stack barn, a new barn building was put into use in 2002 - not for grain but for knowledge sharing. The barn's excellent acoustics and visual strength led to the formation of Bramstrup Performing Arts the following year in collaboration with the Center for Art and Leadership at Copenhagen Business School.

Raw materials and landscape project

In 2011, a combined resource and landscape project was adopted, which, based on the history of the place and the experiences from Bramstrup Knowledge Center and Bramstrup Performing Arts, aims to secure and develop Bramstrup well into the coming centuries.

Development plans

In 2022 - 2024, a Master Plan and a Layout Plan for Bramstrup will be prepared in collaboration with Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects. These plans and the designation of the South Funen Archipelago Geopark in 2024 clarify Bramstrup's potential and outline a direction for future development.

Middle Ages

Baroque

A new Baroque main building was built in 1689, partly on the foundations of the original castle. The architect was Ernst Brandenburg, who later also designed Clausholm near Randers.