Sorø

The site of Sorø was first settled c. 1140, following the establishment of a Benedictine monastery by Jarl Asser Rig on the site. However, the initial Benedictine order was replaced by the jarl's son, bishop Absalon, with an order of Cistercians in 1161.[5] Allegedly, Absalon choose to replace the Benedictine order as they were ill-equipped to run the monastery grounds, and the Cistercians had more experience with land management. Sorø Abbey became the largest and wealthiest monastic site in Denmark, complete with a school for the training of clergy.[6]

Sorø Abbey Gate, constructed between 1160 and 1200.

The abbey's status, however, did not last. By the time of the reformation in 1536, the monastery was used exclusively as a retirement home for monks. Sorø was allowed to remain a Protestant monastery to administer its large land possessions. In 1586, King Frederik II formally abolished the monastery, foundeding a boarding school on the site for the boys of the bourgeoisie and nobility, which eventually became known as Sorø Academy.[3][6] In 1638, Christian IV established a knight's academy near the initial school for the education of his sons, and the town was formally given market town status to provide housing for the academy's faculty.[3][6][7] The school's first independent buildings were constructed in 1747 following the bequest of most of Ludvig Holberg's estate to the academy.

The forests, lakes, and marshes which surround Sorø made it difficult to establish trade routes through the settlement. A small urban community with a number of craftsmen had grown in Sorø following its market town privileges, but most farmers in the area still preferred to travel to older markets to trade their harvests, and so the town struggled to maintain a significant trade.[6] As a result, until the mid-19th century, Sorø was mostly populated by craftsmen, schoolchildren, and the academy's faculty. The city's survival was highly dependent on the academy, which is demonstrated by the fact that, for much of its history, the city's government operated out of a single room in one of the academy's buildings. It wasn't until 1845 that a town hall was built in the city's central square. The original town hall burned down in 1879, and a larger hall took its place, constructed in neo-gothic style.[7]

In 1856, the Copenhagen–Fredericia/Taulov Line was constructed through Sorø, increasing traffic to the town.[4] In contrast to most other Danish towns, the arrival of the railway did not result in a significant increase in industrialisation, and the town remained dominated by the academy, and other schools which had been founded in the area.[6] The population of Sorø did expand as a result of the railway, however. In 1855 the town had a population of just 1,033, which had grown to 2,241 by 1901, and 4,881 in 1921.[7] Significant expansion of the town took place towards the south, near the station, which has today become the district of Frederiksberg.[6]

Though the town's population had stagnated during World War II and its immediate aftermath, it began to grow again in the 1960s and 70s. Its continued expansion in the later 20th century may be the result of increasing desire to move to suburban areas. In 1993, the Vestmotorvej opened, passing close to Sorø, which made it an increasingly attractive commuter town.[6]

Sorø has maintained its status as the administrative center in the region. It was made the administrative seat of the former Sorø Country in 1798, and then of West Zealand County. Following the municipal reform of 2007, Sorø became the seat of the newly formed Sorø Municipality.[6][7]

• Axel Thayssen (1885 in Sorø–1952) a Danish tennis player, competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics
• Bent Jensen (born 1925 in Sorø–2016) a Danish rower, competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics
• Trine Hansen (born 1973) a retired female rower, bronze medallist at the 1996 Summer Olympics, grew up in Sorø