Ørslev Monastery Renovation: A Historic Work-Stay Retreat in Denmark

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We first encountered the restoration work at Ørslev Monastery through finishes company Linolie & Pigment. Founded around 1200 as a Benedictine nunnery, reformed into a Baroque manor in the 18th century, and nearly lost to decay by the early 20th, the structure that stands today is the result of centuries of adaptation—and a devotion to stewardship. That stewardship began with Countess Olga Sponneck, who saved the monastery from collapse in 1934, restoring the building and, by the early 1960s, shifting its purpose into a creative work refuge. Today, under the direction of Janne Fruergaard Keyes, a medieval archaeologist dedicated to preservation and living use, the most recent restoration continues that tradition.

Rather than imposing a fresh surface, the work focuses on continuity: repairing what exists, revealing what has been obscured, and selecting finishes for integrity. Linseed oil paints and historical pigments were chosen for their compatibility—materials that breathe with centuries-old masonry, timber, and plaster, and that reinforce the monastery’s original character.

At present, Ørslev Monastery functions as a creative residence, inhabited by writers, artists, scholars, and musicians who come for long stretches of focused attention. That use feels natural to the architecture: shared spaces with monastic precedent and small rooms that encourage concentration. Bringing a historic building like this into the future requires a precise recipe: two parts respect for craftsmanship and one part innovation. Here, we walk through the halls and grounds of Ørslev Monastery for a closer look.

Photography by Helene Høyer Mikkelsen for Linolie & Pigment.