Skodsborg Sanatorium was founded by the physician Carl Ottesen and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1898. Ottesen's inspiration came from John Harvey Kellogg for whom he had worked at the Health Reform Institute. Back in Denmark, he first opened Frydenstrand Sanatorium in association with the Adventist Church's folk high school in Frederikshavn. In 1897, he purchased two buildings in Skodsborg which had previously served as a summer retreat for King Frederick VII and Countess Danner. Skodsborg sanatorium opened in 1889 where Ottesen also founded Den Sanitære Førevarefabrik. The new sanatorium had originally room for 20 patients but was expanded with a new main building in 1907 when the remaining part of the royal summer residence, Villa Rex, was also acquired. The institution became colloquially known as Den Hvide By or Persilleslottet due to the vegetarian diet that was served to the patients. The sanatorium also served as a training facility for chefs and physiotherapists. Kellogg visited the sanatorium in 1926. The Adventist Church sold Skodsborg Sanatorium to the Augustinus Foundation in 1992. The complex has been restored and expanded by Henning Larsen Architects.
Architecture
Countess Danner's Mansion is a 13 bay long detached, two-storey wing located to the south of the main building. The building has a half hipped roof with blue tiles. The building, as it appears today, is from 1952, when the original building from 1800 was expanded by Peter Kornerup. It was listed in 1950. Villa Rex is from 1858 and was designed by Johan Henrik Nebelong. The tower is from 1880. The building was listed in 1994.
Facilities
The Lobby is a combined lounge, restaurant and cocktail bar. The restaurant serves New Nordic cuisine. The head chef is Philip Scheel Grønkjær. The modern extension contains a large pool area, gym, yoga hall and test rooms.
Garden
In the park to the south of Countess Danner's Mansion is a grotto which was built by Frederick VII in 1853. It is made of reavertine, flint and iron slags. Its interior features imitated stalactites and the floor is decorated with pale and dark beach stones set in a star-shaped pattern. A winding, partly internal staircase on the rear side of the mound leads to the top for good views of Skodsborg and the Øresund.
