The story

In 1832, this mansion by Bellevue Wood was completed as a faithful replica of Liselund Castle, situated a little further to the south. Since then, the property has undergone many changes. In 1849 – the same year we adopted the Constitution – it was extended to include, amongst other things, an exquisite dining room, a splendid conservatory and an extra storey, meaning the mansion is now three times the size of its inspiration on the island of Møn. Finally, in 1864, what is perhaps the most expensive extension in Danish history was added, when an elegant bay window – beneath which there is a full cellar – was added to the library.

Today, the property looks magnificent and impressive, with everything in the finest condition and vast amounts of space. It is almost impossible to imagine that in the 1990s the place was known as the ‘Ghost Castle’ and was threatened with demolition and decay. At the very last minute, the mansion was saved by a private buyer, who paid for the restoration out of his own pocket and worked miracles on the property, which has since been restored to its former glory by the current owner.

200-year-old trees

As the mansion stands at the end of a lime tree-lined avenue, with a fountain in the square in front of it and in the middle of an 8,785-square-metre park, it is not difficult to imagine oneself some 200 years back in time. Back then, it was built as a country retreat by Carl Wilhelm Raben, who owned Beldringe Estate. Many of the tall, magnificent trees, such as the stunning red beech and the sweet chestnut, were also to be found in the park at that time.

Today, just as in the past, the park is surrounded by Bellevue Forest. From the property, it is just a five-minute drive to Præstø’s thriving high street, its old, charming streets and the cosy harbour area, which attracts many tourists in the summer.

A unique mansion with no outbuildings

All in all, Bellevue – as the mansion is called, and after which the road is named – offers 603 square metres of living space spread over two storeys, plus a further 281 square metres in the basement, which houses a highly efficient and advanced oil-fired boiler from 2015 that can be controlled remotely via the internet. The property’s CCTV system can also be controlled remotely, and there is a remote-controlled wrought-iron gate by the road.

Unusually for this part of the country, the mansion is not marred by surrounding outbuildings. Instead, there is simply a fine, half-timbered outbuilding nearby, offering a further 43 square metres of space for firewood and other storage. The outbuilding was constructed at the same time as the mansion and, like the cellar, was renovated in 2019. There are also new doors and windows, fitted in 2017, on the ground floor of the mansion.

Exquisite, original details

As you ascend the staircase, enter the hall and pass through the ground floor’s two living rooms, library and staircase, you will quickly notice a wealth of fine details – such as the original wooden panelling in the living rooms and the beautiful joinery on the staircase. The original plank floors can also be found in two large adjoining living rooms, whilst there are light-coloured marble tiles in the hall and the guest toilet.

Two handcrafted tiled stoves stand in separate living rooms. One living room enjoys morning sun, the garden room enjoys midday sun, and the dining room and kitchen enjoy the sun in the afternoon and evening. Throughout the day, there is a wonderful sense of light and air, with high ceilings, views of the park and access to the conservatory, which maintains a comfortable temperature all year round. The low February sun easily finds its way through the mansion’s windows, making the room lovely and cosy, whilst the high summer sun is shielded by the roof.

Abundant wildlife in the park

With seven rooms and two bathrooms, the first floor offers a wide range of layout options. For example, you could have both an office area and a sleeping area. The ‘master bedroom’ is particularly worth highlighting. It consists of three adjoining rooms with pure wool carpets from 2017 and specially imported wallpaper, similar to that found in the White House. The suite has its own bathroom.

At weekends, and when guests are visiting, it is natural to head out into the grounds, which boast a large paved terrace and, as night falls, are illuminated by several period-style wrought-iron lampposts. In addition to the beech and chestnut trees, there is also an American Douglas fir, a hickory, several other rare trees and a small pond with frogs and ducks. Occasionally, fallow deer venture right up to the house, whilst hares, squirrels, woodpeckers, owls and cuckoos make their homes in and amongst the trees.