As self-builds go, this one’s truly fit for a king. With little experience, aside from building model castles as a child, Peter Hvid took on the ultimate DIY project: transforming his mid-century suburban home into a full-scale replica of a 14th-century medieval castle.

Complete with towers, battlements, and stonework, the result is as jaw-dropping as it is unexpected.  

Today, hundreds of curious visitors sign up to tour his unique creation. Click or scroll to step inside this modern-day marvel...

Peter Hvid, 49, never intended to transform his ordinary detached house in Gistrup near Aalborg, Denmark, into a full-scale medieval castle in the middle of suburbia, but that’s what happened.

“I didn't plan a full castle from the beginning, but I wanted a wall around the garden, and since I have always been into knights and castles, I thought, why not build it like an old-fashioned castle wall?"

The caseworker’s detached house was built in 1959 and is on a peaceful residential road. But he has been gradually transforming it into a Renaissance castle with a moat, plus towers and battlements. 

It all began with a vision, and before long, Casa Del Renaissance was born. The rest, as they say, is history.

Peter moved into the detached property in 2005, and after getting planning permission, he began work on the castle wall in 2006. But his fascination with all things medieval started way back in boyhood.

Peter says: “When I was a child, I watched all kinds of medieval movies, read Prince Valiant, and I would build miniature castles. So, when I found out I was good at real building too, well, then things took a medieval turn!” 

“I wanted a roof where people could sit in the shade outside, and that became the first tower in the middle of the courtyard. And then I wanted another tower. And another. I had to do some research about building, of course.” 

Peter did about 90% of the work himself, only needing professionals for plumbing and electricity, which required an expert. “I work in an office, so I do not have any kind of trade or craftsman-education, but the internet can teach you a lot,” he says. 

It was a project which grew and evolved over the years. Peter’s first moat was just a metre wide (3.3ft) and 10 metres (32.8ft) long. But, today it is four metres (13.1ft) wide and it goes almost all around the whole house. 

The project is an evolving labour of love. "I'll add an extra coat of arms here, a better handle for a door I found on a holiday there, and so on. You get the idea," says Peter.

In the beginning, Peter’s build drew some attention in the town. He says: “I admit it looked like a strange project, and I guess many talked about me like 'the weird man'!”

But today it has put the small town of Gistrup firmly on the map, and people come from all over to see it.  

So, how much does it cost to build a replica castle? Peter says: “I will tell you the truth: I do not know how much it has cost. Because it has been a long chain of big and small projects." It's a hobby and living in one – and an ever-ongoing project.” 

He does reveal that the biggest tower cost about 150,000 Danish Krones (£17k/$23k) to build, while the small corner tower was around 10,000 Danish Krones (£1.2k/$1.6k).

Inside, there are all the trappings of a medieval castle. In the lounge, there's a stately fireplace, guarded by armoured knights.

But the castle also has plenty of mod-cons for 21st-century living, such as central heating, electricity, a modern bathroom and every other comfort found in a regular home.

Peter built the huge 6.5 metre (21.3ft) dining table in the knights' hall himself, after failing to find anything to his tastes. "Every castle I visited had such tables, but I found that everything for sale was too small, so I set to work," he says. 

Peter also installed the rich, atmospheric wood panelling, complete with detailed coat of arms motifs that add a sense of grandeur, perfect for hosting friends and family.

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Originally, the property was 220 square metres (2,368sqft), but it has shrunk to 180 (1,937sqft) because Peter chose to remove the upper floor in several places, to create striking six-metre (20ft) high ceilings.
 
"Did I need children's rooms on the first floor more or to have six-metre ceilings and sit under my coat of arms and enjoy a drink? I chose the latter," he smiles. A hall was also an essential. “A castle is not a castle without a hall."

A statement staircase takes centre stage in the heart of the castle. Heavy doors with iron fittings and a huge candelabra complete the fortress look. The stairs are made from wood sourced from a local market.

True to his DIY ethos, Peter repurposed materials wherever possible, upcycling discarded or damaged furniture and taking on the work himself to save money, rather than hiring craftsmen.

Peter also admits to being a "nerd" about traditional methods and appreciates finer details, and on his Instagram, he proudly shared a delivery of steam forged iron nails made in the old-fashioned manner with fire and ice! 

Peter's castle is a project which has evolved a great deal, but in Peter’s words, it’s unlikely ever to be finished.

“Many times, I have said, 'after this tower my castle is complete,' but then the next year I dream up even more ideas. One of my neighbours said: 'You'll never finish, so you’ll die with unfinished business and will become the castle ghost!"  

Once a year Peter opens up his castle doors to host an open castle event, where people can take a tour around. At the last event he welcomed 600 visitors. At one point there were so many interested people that he had to withhold tours for a period.  

Peter also holds a Halloween show for the children of the town. Initially it was just Peter running the show but today he has a team of 16 actors helping him and the local shops sponsor the candy and treats. 

The build has drawn a lot of interest over the years. "So many people have shown up, saying that they like it and have asked for a guided tour inside. That still charms me a great deal.” This phenomenal interest in what Peter refers to as his "weird interest” still surprises him. 

Peter has also been struck by how keen people have been to "play along". In autumn 2025, he held a feast where his friends dressed up in period clothes and dined around the table by candlelight. “It was just like in the 14th century,“ he laughs. 

Peter’s latest addition to the castle? Plans for a royal guard. “So far, two friends have bought matching uniforms and helmets,” he says. “They stand guard during feasts and open castle events.”

With faux 'crown jewels' like this on display, a guard or two is most certainly needed!

For Peter, daily life is full of contrasts. After a busy day working as a caseworker in Brønderslev Municipality, he gets to come home and step back in time, as the king of his very own castle, complete with a walled courtyard and a drawbridge moat.

“I need a fairytale world,” he says, “where the biggest problem is that there’s a dragon in the moat.” 

But what do the neighbours think of his unusual home? Luckily, they are proud to live alongside the unique abode. Peter says: “On one side lives a family with two children who grew up with the fortress and have been celebrating Halloween here since they were little.”

And on the other side is a new build, whose owner apparently recently wrote on Facebook that he was looking forward to moving in and having a view of the knight's castle every morning.

While building a castle isn’t exactly a common hobby these days, Peter’s not alone. He’s part of a small but passionate community of like-minded creatives across Scotland, America, and beyond who are doing the same. In fact, it was the realisation that he wasn’t likely to inherit a castle in Scotland, or win the lottery, that inspired him to build one himself. 

His advice for others planning a similar build? "Always get permission. I needed many permissions! Denmark is an extremely regulated country." It's a reminder that creative projects like this require careful navigation of local rules.

So, what's next for Casa Del Renaissance and Peter? There may be a new queen of the castle. "My partner, Maria, does not live here (yet), but she has plans to move in. Currently, she calls it her 'summer palace'". Watch this space!

For more behind-the-scenes tours and fairytale magic, you can follow along on Instagram or Facebook.

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