Ladegaard

Norway, Norway

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Ladegaard, commonly referring to Lade Gård (Lade Manor) in Trondheim, Norway, boasts Viking Age origins as the seat of the powerful Earls of Lade from the 9th century, where Harald Fairhair established his "rightful home" around 865-933 while unifying Norway, later controlled by Bakke Abbey until the 1537 Reformation made it crown land. Danish noble Hans Ovesen Røed elevated it to Norway's only noble seat outside Oslo in 1574 via land swap, passing through families like Schøller and Wibe before grosserer Hilmar Meincke rebuilt the current Palladian-style complex around 1809-1830 blending English manor aesthetics with Norwegian paneling. Today it serves as Reitan Group's cultural center for leadership training, preserving 1000+ years of royal, noble, and agricultural heritage near Trondheim.