Helvedgård voldsted in Nørreskoven on Als

In Nørreskoven on Als, you'll find Helvedgård voldsted, the site of a former fortified manor house once protected by a moat. Today, you can still see the impressive mound rising around four metres above the water level of the moat.

A bridge leads across to the mound, where the manor house once stood. Here, you can get a sense of how the moat and raised mound formed part of the manor's defences.

A manor house with medieval roots

Helvedgård was first mentioned in historical records in 1321 and remained associated with the Sture family for several centuries.

In the mid-16th century, Thomas Sture decided to replace the old manor house with a larger estate. Helvedgård was demolished, and he built Ny Helvedgård around 1.5 kilometres to the south-east. It later became known as Østerholm Slot.

Today, the mound and moat are the visible remains of the medieval manor house, while traces of Østerholm can still be seen to the south-east of Helvedgård.

Where does the name Helvedgård come from?

Although the name Helvedgård might sound similar to the Danish word for hell, its origins are quite different. The name comes from the German word Hellwitt, meaning 'holy forest'.

Last updated on 19 October 2026.