Fritz Sybergs atelier – Kerteminde

In 1902, Fritz Syberg and his wife, Anna Syberg, moved to Kerteminde (at that time, a little north of the town). Fritz Syberg had found an old thatched farm – Pilegården – just a 10-minute walk along a field road from Møllebakke, where Johannes and Alhed Larsen lived.

Pilegården became the home from which Syberg and his family based themselves for more than 30 years. In the garden of Pilegården, an atelier was established where Fritz Syberg could work on his artworks. Many of his paintings were also created in the garden itself, where old, gnarled apple trees helped create a special oasis for the painter.

Anna Syberg passed away in 1914, and Fritz Syberg was left alone with seven children – the youngest, Rabbe, was just nine months old. The following year, he married Anna’s sister, Marie. Fritz Syberg remained at Pilegården until his death in 1939, but as early as 1920, the oldest son, Hans, a sculptor, took over the farm.

In 1938, ownership was transferred to the second son, Franz, also known as Trylle. Franz was a composer and lived at Pilegården with his wife Gudrun and their two children until 1955. That year, Pilegården was destroyed by fire, and tragically, Franz perished in the blaze. Gudrun subsequently built a detached house on the site, which, along with the surrounding housing area, is now owned by the Grønløkken Housing Association.

However, Fritz Syberg’s beautiful atelier still stands and has been preserved in its original condition. The atelier is owned by the Syberg family, but you can view it from the outside by driving to Sybergs Have 11, 5300 Kerteminde. It is not possible to enter the atelier without prior arrangement.

Learn more at: Historisk Atlas