A quick guide to Ørslev Kloster

  • Who, what and why? Ørslev Kloster is a creative residence run on a not-for profit basis, anyone one can apply to stay and work here. Our only stipulation is that you have a specific work project and the need for space, time and the optimal surroundings for concentration. Built as a Benedictine nunnery around the 12th century, it has functioned as a manor house at the centre of a large estate up until WW1, when the monastery became a private residence for Countess Olga Sponneck. Following her death, she bequeathed the house and remaining lands to a charity in her name with the aim of preserving and developing the monastery as a creative residence. This is not a typical artist-in-residence institution, everyone pays the same low price and works independently from their own room, whilst sharing the rest of the manor-house and surroundings with all the necessary facilities and inspiring historical atmosphere.

    Since 1969, Ørslev has welcomed thousands of people from all backgrounds and age groups as guests; journalists, musicians, academics and students, business professionals, artists, politicians, theatre and film professionals etc. The vast majority of our guests come back again and again, when they have a suitable project and the need for time and space. Our founding and guiding principles are that Ørslev Kloster is be used as a creative place for work and study on a solely secular basis. Ørslev is not the place, if you are looking for a place for recreative holidays and restitution or religious retreats.

  • How long? The minimum stay is 2 days and the longest possible is 2 months.

  • Application: Ahead of your first residency at Ørslev Kloster, simply send us a short-written description of your project and the purpose of your stay with us in an e-mail to janne@oerslev-kloster.dk

  • Price: DKK 375 per night.

  • Food and catering: All guests make their own food in principle. There is a local supermarket only 1 km from the monastery – but you can also choose to order your meals and have them delivered from our catering partners and suppliers. We have a number of options available such as Eva who runs Drivhuset and delivers fresh and frozen produce to our door every Thursday.

  • Arrival: The rooms are available for use on the day of arrival from 1 pm at the latest. But you are welcome to arrive earlier and work in any of the suite of baroque rooms in the East wing until your room is ready. The same is true on the day of departure. We try to adhere to as little ‘hotel time’ as possible. We always want you to stay as long as possible!

  • Departure: You don’t have to vacate your room until 11 am, but you are welcome to stay and work in the East Wing for as long as you wish on the day of departure.

  • Rooms: The main buildings of the medieval monastery contain 10 bedrooms in the West and South wings, whilst the East wing contains 5 large baroque rooms for work and relaxation with a garden terrace and steps down to the garden. The former monastic church makes up the North wing of the complex and functions as the parish church for our local area. Beside the church and the 3 wings of the monastery, some of the former farm buildings of the estate complex have been converted in group facilities in a self-contained, spacious and fully equipped house.   

  • Groups: Groups can apply for a residency at the Portnerbolig, which are the converted former farm buildings of the estate. There are 12 rooms.

  • Cancellation: If you are unfortunate enough to have to cancel your reservation less than 10 days before arrival, then a cancellation fee of 2 days is applied. If you cancel less than 3 days before the start of your residency, than the full cost of the booking applies.

  • Welcome! We look forward to welcoming you to your new temporary home at Ørslev Kloster.

This is just a short introduction with the bare minimum of information ahead of your residency. You can learn more from our website and anything else you might need to know about the history of the site, our facilities from bikes to cooking bowls is available on site.