Baroniet Rosendal is one of the most important museums found in Western Norway. Being situated between mountains, glacier and waterfalls at the gate of Hardangerfjorden, this castle is the only barional manor in Norway. Today the castle is a well known museum for “the Danish period” in the Norwegian history. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful landscape park.
In 1658 there was a wedding between Norway´s wealthiest heir, Karen Mowat, and a proud Danish nobleman. Karen Mowat and Ludvig Rosenkrantz were given the farm Hatteberg as a wedding present. They built their home there, and called it Rosendal. It was finished in 1665.
King Christian V of Denmark-Norway gave the estate status as a Barony in 1678. There were more than five hundred farms in his domain. Rosendal was an entailed estate owned by the Rosenkrone family from 1745 to 1927, when it was donated its present owner, the University of Oslo.
Concerts and art exhibitions were often held at the castle- a tradition that is still alive at the castle. Today You may enjoy exhibitions, theatrical performances and concerts with the finest artists all through the summer. The castle has two concert rooms with among other things a Pleyel Grand Piano. The castle is surrounded by one of the best kept renaissance gardens in Scandinavia. This garden gives an unique atmosphere to the castle. Among the things that can be seen here is the rose garden, formed as a labyrinth.
In earlier days many fine parties where held at Baroniet Rosendal. Today it is possible for groups to rent the castle for special events. During such events, You may enjoy everything from gala dinners to events with a more rustique atmosphere.
Recommended that events like this starts with transporting the group up to castle by horses from Kvinnherad Post chase Society. Very often such events also include a classical concert in “The Yellow room”. The castle is reputated for its kitchen.
A guided tour at Baroniet Rosendal is a tour through different epochs. The rooms are influenced by owners over 250 years, and the manor is preserved as a home the way it was when the last owners left in 1927.
The walls in the Baroque Room, later to become a library, has a unique French gobelin from around 1660. In the Dining Room you may admire very old Meissen and Royal Danish porcelain. The Red Room is adorned with the beauty and grandeur of Norwegian nature expressed in landscape paintings from the national romantic period. The Yellow Room is Norwegian Empire. The mahogany furniture has inlaid woodwork.
The park and garden around the manor is well worth a visit. The renaissance garden is a beautiful sight in summer with its abundance of roses laid out in labyrinth patterns. In 1850 the tall white stone wall surrounding the house and garden was torn down to let nature in, and a park was shaped in the national romantic style of that era. A peaceful stroll on paths and lanes under the mighty trees will inspire your imagination. On your walk you may come upon a fairy tale cabin, a mysterious tower, ponds and bridges, and many viewpoints overlooking the fjord, mountains and waterfalls.