Gisselfeld Abbey Forests

Gisselfeld is a former monastery and, at some 3,850 hectares, Denmark's fifth-largest estate. It lies in southern Zealand between Haslev and Næstved, with its main building in Braaby Parish in Faxe Municipality. Around 2,400 of its hectares are forest, and it is these woodlands, lakes and parkland that draw visitors, since the historic manor house itself is a private residence and not open to the public. The three-storey Renaissance building has stepped gables, loopholes and a projecting tower over the main gate, set among a moat, a well-kept park, a lake, a waterfall, gardens and a greenhouse. First mentioned at the end of the 14th century when it was owned by Bo Falk, Gisselfeld passed through the noble Falk and Gøye families before changing hands many times over the centuries. A more recent landmark rising above its forest is a 45-metre-tall hyperboloid tower, a striking modern contrast to the old estate. The extensive Gisselfeld forests offer quiet walking and cycling routes through classic Danish woodland, making the area a rewarding stop for nature lovers exploring southern Zealand.