Gavnø Foundation

The Gavnø Foundation was established in 1961.

The primary objective of the foundation is to own and preserve Gavnø Castle and Gavnø Castle Garden along with the collections of furniture and paintings, which are given to the foundation or which the foundation posseses or purchases in the future, so that Gavnø Castle and the collections are preserved as long as possible as a culture-historical testimony on the period from the time of the monastery to the conversion of entailed estates into fee simple, and where the owners of Gavnø – the families of Lindenov, Trolle, Thott and Reedtz-Thott – played an important part as collectors and preservers of culture-historical og national values. The proceeds of the income shall therefore primarily apply to the necessary funds to keep up the castle, the castle garden and the collections.

Secondly, the objective of the foundation is to seek to expand the collections by purchase paintings and furniture with association to Gavnø or the owners of Gavnø or by purchase of such paintings and furniture, which supplement the collections in a natural way.

Thirdly, the objective of the foundation is, as far as the board finds it financially responsible in regard to the objectives mentioned above, to support the promotion of social, cultural and national, scientific or artistic objectives, especially those that can tribute to the education and training of the youth. At least half of the funds that are distributed shall be given to Herlufsholm School as free funds, which may be used at the Principal’s discretion.

The Board

Attorney-at-Law Michael Rasmussen
Attorney-at-Law Helle Reedtz-Thott (Director)
Otto baron Reedtz-Thott