Well it is that time of year again to visit Fano for the biggest knitting festival in terms of learning and beautiful yarn stands not junk stands. This year again we travel leisurely by car overnight ferry through Holland with a visit to my best friends Charity and Nol in Holland and to meet and work with Pia and do some dyeing techniques. Travel on to Fano for my felt exhibition and displaying the new Harwood Heritage Designs made with my own wool. On leaving Fano I have another treat as I travel to a castle built in 1606 to stay in Bogense. My apartment is set in the northern wing of the Harridslevgaard Castle, 6 minutes’ drive from central Bogense on Funen Island.

Bogense Beach is 5 minutes’ drive away, while Odense city centre is 17.4 miles away so time to visit the stores and do my Christmas shopping.

As the only manor house in North Funen, Harridslevgaard castle near Bogense is open to visitors during the season. The castle was first mentioned in 1231 and at that time the water went right up to Harridslevgaard. According to old legend, sea pirates were residing here. However the present building is dated back to l606. For some years Harridslevgaard was whitewashed, but now it has been brought back to its original form. The great hall which is rented out to arrangements/occasions, is the largest of its kind in private ownership in Denmark. The old vaulted castle kitchen is rented out for gourmet dinners and the Middle Ages cellar is rented out for winetasting. By appointment the castle will be open all year for large groups.

Sounds just the place to dream of pirates and princesses and soak up all that historical atmosphere that I love in this awesome Castle