On a free day we drove a bit to visit the Borglum Monastery - built in the 1100s, but seat of Danish royalty for centuries earlier. Now, you might say, why does Borglum sound familiar...?
Pull up to the main gate...
Enter through the gift shop... where else?
Here are a few views from the 'outside' of the inside of the complex.
In the far right of the above picture - way in the back, you can see a woven Aspen fence. Here is a close up. They grow new Aspen saplings behind this to replenish the fence.
One if the first 'barns' you pass through is a sleigh and wagon museum, many dating from the 1800s.
This one dates into the 1600s.
1617 to be exact...
We apparently didn't pay enough admission. Ann goes to work in the kitchens...
We visited the church, dating to the 1600s?? I think. Not quite as old as the rest of the buildings. This is the altar piece.
This is the Nodding Madonna. One of the oldest icons in the church. I believe this dates to the 14th century. They don't explain why it's called the Nodding Madonna. No, it's not the first bobble head! (I'm going to hell for sure now!)
With a Baptismal font of this size, a good life must follow! Each of the figures is hand carved and unique.
Oh, yeah, back to Borglum... The carver of Mount Rushmore is a descendant of the Borglums who founded this monastery. Imagine our surprise to go down this small access way to the basement...
And we find our selves in a shrine to the Borglum dynasty and their history with Mount Rushmore.
This is the same video that plays in South Dakota! In English. A testament to Danish fluency in English - no subtitles!
Mount Rushmore before it's carved.
A final view to the inner courtyard...
We headed home in time to enjoy another fab sunset!
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