The rampart
Ørkild voldsted set fra mølledammen. Forneden af volden står bænke, hvor man kan sætte sig og nyde udsigten over dammen.


Ørkild rampart

Near the wood of Rottefaelde lies a rampart/bank - the largest in denmark from the middleages. Here lied once a stronghold named Oerkild stronghold. Oerkild stronghold was build by Valdemar the great 1154-1182 (danish king). It has been owned by the bishops of odense and is also menioned first by them in 1264.
As it was very close and probably dominating the Svendborgians felt by time threatened by them as it was a big ompetitor in trading in Svendborg. By time the little town grew bigger with grocers and everything that belongs to a independant city with its own trading and shipping. The Svendborgians complained repeatedly about the resident at Oerkild and their inconsiderate use of harbors and shipping. Exploiration and trading ignoring the Svendborgians.
During the quest of the count in 1534 the Svendborgians took the opportunity and stormed the detested stronghold and burned it down.

Læs mere i bl.a. Årbog for Svendborg og omegns museum 1995 på side 29-46.

Part of ruin
Today are only a few excavations left. Here is the chapel of the castle.

 

Pax

A so called pax (peace) found in 1862 on Oerkilds bank. It's believed to have been made in 1160 and being cut in walrus tooth. The priest reached the pax out to the congregation who kissed it.

View over the dammen nedenfor volden

 

 View from the top of the rampart place.

View over the rampart

This is where it once lied. It's a bit hard to imagine that here was once a stronghold with two towers lying just before one came to the bridge to the entrance of the stronghold.

See panorama (large file, have patience).

It's open to the public for walking. You can sit here on the grass if you want, though sometimes there are sheeps here.

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