On our last flying tour with Vagn we went to see Gavnø Castle and Næstved.
Recycling plant in Næstved, near the airfield. You can see the airfield, if you know where to look 🙂 We are on left base.
After landing we called a taxi, and got off a bit before the Gavnø Castle in order to walk through this beautiful vally of blooming trees:
Gavnø Castle is known from 1231 when it was mentioned as a house on Gavnø in King Valdemar’s census book. It is located on the Gavnø island near Næstved. The island has an area of 5.6 km2, and a population of around 50-60 people.
Count Otto Thott got the island in 1737, and renovated the castle in the Rococo style. Otto Thott kept his large collections of paintings, manuscripts and books in the castle. At his death, his library collection contained over 120,000 volumes, exceeding that of the Danish National Library. Otto Thott is buried in the park near the bridge to the Gavnø island:
Oceans of flowers met us in the Gavnø Castle’s park:
We walked around and enjoyed the sunny and warm day out in this beautiful place:
I liked the combination below most: silky Havran and almost pure white Silver Dollar tulips.
In the 15th century, Queen Margaret I opened St. Agnes Priory there for a community of Dominican nuns.
The chapel can still be seen in the castle’s southern wing although it has since been extended.
A small lake in the middle of the park:
The romantic half-timbered house on the photo below was built in the 19th century and named Skjærsommer, as written on the roof’s gable in brass letters.
The house was built as a playhouse for the little baroness Julie Reedtz-Thott. In the house there is a part of the private collection of over 3,000 dolls and toys that belonged to the little baroness and her brothers.
In The House of Butterflies one can see many of exotic butterflies flying around freely.
There are more than 60 different species of them.
I visitor with a butterfly resting on her finger (I could never use such a boring nail polish!):
There were supposed to be goats, but they probably were hiding somewhere, we never found them.
After having coffee and cakes in the park we bought Vagn a bottle of locally brewed beer. It is the only brewery in Denmark that is a castle brewery.
Another taxi got us to Næstved which is an old city with the roots back to 500-600 BC. It is the second fastest growing city in Denmark.
We chose to have dinner at an Indian restaurant Dhaba, and started from having a drink – delicious mango lassi with cinnamon:
We were a little tired after walking for several hours among flowers, butterflies, blooming trees… It was nice to seat down, have a cold drink and enjoy the view:
The food was exceptionally good. I had a lamb curry, and Vagn – karim lamb tikka. I love Indian curry. I have an Indian restaurant close to my home, and often go there. They just lost me as a customer! The food at Dhaba was so much better! I’ve found out Dhaba has restaurants in other cities, too.
A stroll in the town exploring the modern art:
We saw this or similar paintings in several places, but nobody could tell us anything about them. We wondered whether it was the same person, if yes – who he was, and who the artist was.
Nice old buildings and sculptures on the way:
One more taxi, and we were back at the airfield. It was a day full of very good experiences, and we waved good bye to Næstved and Gavnø from air:
