Have you ever walked through a place steeped in centuries of history? Welcome to Virum a suburb north of Copenhagen. Virum’s story begins long ago. A papal letter from 1186 mentions this village. Its name Virum means an open easily defensible place. Pope Clement III gifted Virum to Bishop Absalon. Absalon then gave it to the Bishopric of Roskilde.
Around 1250 Bishop Absalon built Hjortholm a small castle here. Unfortunately Hjortholm was destroyed during the Count’s Feud in 1535. But the land remained significant. King Frederick III took over the estate in 1668. He renamed it Frederiksdal. He built a hunting lodge. This lodge is still standing today. Frederiksdal Castle is one of Virum’s main sights. Its main building was constructed between 1744 and 1745. It served as a summer residence for Johan Sigismund Schulin a Privy Councilor for Foreign Affairs. The Schulin family still owns the estate.
The village of Virum originally resided where Virumgade is now. It belonged to Lyngby parish. The land was divided into three areas. These were called Geelsvang Mellemvang and Hфftevang. They were further divided into fields. Farmers used a three-field system for crop rotation. The area near Lake Furesф was used for grazing livestock. In 1682 Virum consisted of 13 farms three houses with land and 14 houses without land.
Virum transformed dramatically. The conversion of the North Line into an S-train line changed its fate. Virum railway station opened in 1936. The plan was to build a healthy suburb. It would be the size of a medium-sized Danish town. Virum Torv a mixed-use development became the center. It has shops services and apartments. A cinema Virum Bio opened in 1939. An Irma supermarket opened in the same building.
Virum has attracted many notable residents. These include ice hockey player Jan Popiel artist Kirsten Ortwed and sailor Marianne Halfdan-Nielsen. Famous footballers Klaus Berggreen and John Helt also lived here. The list includes businesswoman Stine Bosse journalist and diplomat Torsten Stiig Jansen and even politicians like Henrik Sass Larsen. Virum boasts a rich past and present. It’s more than just a suburb. It’s a community with a fascinating history and a vibrant present. You can still see remnants of its past like the ramparts of Hjortholm castle. You can also visit Frederiksdal Castle a testament to Virum’s enduring history. Enjoy your time exploring this unique piece of Danish history.