For sale: Danish suburban home transformed into a medieval castle

GISTRUP, Denmark — A detached house in the suburban outskirts of Aalborg has been listed for 2.5 million Danish kroner after its owner spent 21 years converting it into a fully realized medieval castle.

Peter Hvid, who has become known locally as the “Count of Gistrup,” purchased the 180-square-metre property in 2005 and progressively modified it to resemble a fortified stronghold, complete with battlements, a coat of arms featuring a lion’s head, and other medieval architectural elements.

“I’ve always loved castles, and you only live once,” Hvid told DR. “If I was going to make my dream a reality, this was the way to do it.” Most of the construction and design work was carried out by Hvid himself or with the help of friends.

The property sits on an 829-square-metre plot in Gistrup, a suburb that also contains a school, two supermarkets, and a football club. Over the years, Hvid hosted events such as a Midsummer bonfire speech from the castle’s ramparts and a military parade to mark his 50th birthday.

Now, after two decades, Hvid says he is ready to move on to a city-centre apartment in Aalborg. “I’ve loved living here, but after seeing the same film eight times, it’s time to try something new,” he said. “I’m ready for new adventures.”

Andreas Christensen, a real-estate agent with Thorkild Kristensen, has been tasked with selling the property. “I had to smile when I heard about it,” Christensen said. “I’m from the area myself, so I know the castle is already well known locally.” Determining a price proved challenging, he added, since no comparable sales exist. The final figure—2.5 million kroner—was reached by factoring in the size of the home and the general popularity of the neighbourhood.

Christensen expects strong interest and hopes to attract buyers eager to live out a “knight’s dream,” possibly including overnight stays or themed events. “We’re selling it to someone who wants to make it their own,” he said.

Hvid emphasized that the new owner will have complete freedom to alter or preserve the castle as they wish. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have put it up for sale,” he said.