Imagine Harald Kesja standing here centuries ago. He envisioned a mighty fortress. That fortress was Haraldsborg.
Haraldsborg has a rich and varied past. It has transformed over the years. It started as a fortress and became a Christmas seal home.
According to Saxo Grammaticus Harald Kesja built Haraldsborg. It was likely a ring fortification. Palisides likely protected it. Saxo mentions a revolving wooden tower. However, no archeological evidence supports this.
Harald Kesja plundered far and wide. This hurt his chances of becoming king. His uncle Niels of Denmark became king in 1104. In 1133, Haraldsborg was besieged. Harald’s half-brother Eric Emune attacked. Local German craftsmen helped Eric. They built a trebuchet. Haraldsborg fell. Haraldsborg was once part of Queen Dorothea’s dower lands.
Hendrik Behrmann claims German soldiers destroyed its last remains. This happened during the Count’s Feud in 1534.
A watermill existed here later. It is first mentioned in 1295. Erik Menved gave it to St. Agnes’ Priory in Roskilde. Later, Duebrødre Kloster owned it. The watermill appears on old Roskilde maps. In 1677, Rosen called it Den Haralds Mølle or The Harald’s Mill. By 1753, it was Haraldsborg Mølle. The watermill burned down in 1909.
In 1910, Haraldsborg became a training facility. It trained aspiring housewives. It was named Haraldsborg Husholdningsskole. Anna Bransager Nielsen led the school. It grew to be one of Denmark’s largest. It closed in 1954.
Roskilde Municipality bought the building in 1957. It became a senior citizens’ home. Later, it housed psychiatric patients. More recently, it housed asylum seekers.
Winnie Liljeborg purchased Haraldsborg in 2014. It is being converted into a Christmas seal home. This will be the fifth in Denmark.
In the 19th century, the Haraldsborg Hoard was found here. It included Denmark’s oldest altar set. There was a gilded bronze chalice. An altar disc was also found. Also found was the lid of an oriental bowl. There were over 600 coins from Erik Emune’s reign.
Now, envision socially challenged children finding joy here. Haraldsborg has come full circle. From fortress to a place of hope. Its story continues.