Hofmansgave

Facts

A seat of learning

By Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen , Lektor, dr. phil., Aarhus Universitet (26 stories)

Hofmansgave Manor faces Odense Fiord. Known as Knyle in the 15th century, it has since had a total of four other names: Quitzowsholm, Roseneje, Böttigersholm and Hofmansgave. From 1784 to 1927, Hofmansgave was the entailed estate of the Hofman-Bang family. The main building, built for Niels de Hofman in 1783-84, consists of a main one-storey wing over a high vault, and two lower half-timbered side wings. Its home farm is an asymmetrical building composed of half-timbered wings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The grounds were created by landscape gardener H.A. Klindt in 1856 in a romantic style with rare trees, a Norwegian summerhouse and a man-made rockery called The Alps". "

Partly a public place

Selected entry

House for children left on the shelf

Story written by Carsten Porskrog Rasmussen

Time / Periode 1784 1927

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The Hofman-Bangs were a family of landowners who were interested in science and art. The first occupant was a botanist, and the second ran an agricultural school at Hofmansgave. This was where H.C. Andersen first studied life through a microscope, which inspired his fairytale The drop of water. The library is overflowing with books. Altogether, nine children grew up here in the years after 1870. The oldest son, Niels, became an agricultural expert, Inge an authoress, Ellen a painter and Tyge an organist. Only two daughters married, which left Niels, Karen, Inge, Ellen and Ebba ending their days on the shelf at Hofmansgave. They took great care of their parents' home, which now stands almost as it did in 1920. The estate was donated to a foundation that took over when Ellen Hofman-Bang died in 1971.