At the end of Storgade in Sorø, where the lively town centre meets the quiet grounds of the academy, stands Klosterporten – one of Denmark's most remarkable historic buildings. The red-brick gatehouse, with its tall stepped gables and round-arched passageway, forms a striking and atmospheric entrance to Sorø Academy, the abbey church and the expansive Academy Park. To walk through the gate is to step from the present into a story almost a thousand years old.

Klosterporten was built in the 12th century as the entrance to the Cistercian monastery of Sorø, and the oldest parts of the building date from around the year 1200. With a dwelling above the gate that has been continuously inhabited since the Middle Ages, Klosterporten is regarded as Denmark's oldest inhabited building – not the country's oldest building as such, but the oldest one still lived in. The gate is built of red monastic bricks on a base of hewn granite blocks, and around 1200 it was extended with a transverse wing, giving the building its characteristic cruciform plan. Over the centuries it has witnessed the monastery's golden age, the Reformation and the founding of the school of learning that is today Sorø Academy. The building is now managed by the Sorø Academy Foundation and was listed as a protected monument in 1918.

The gate acquired its present appearance during a thorough restoration in the late 19th century, when the previously whitewashed walls were cleaned so that the raw, red brickwork was revealed once more. Today Klosterporten stands as one of the finest examples of Danish medieval architecture in an urban setting and forms a central element of the well-preserved academy environment. Set closely among the town's houses, the gate acts as a threshold separating the busy shopping street from the calm within the walls.

A visit to Klosterporten is easily combined with a walk further into the Academy Park, down towards Lake Sorø and past the impressive abbey church. The area is one of Zealand's most beautiful cultural-historical settings, where architecture, nature and history merge. You can find inspiration for more experiences in the area at Destination Sjælland.

Sorø lies in the centre of Zealand, beautifully surrounded by lakes and forests, and is known for its distinctive blend of learning, culture and nature. From here, the neighbouring municipalities of Holbæk, Slagelse and Kalundborg are all within easy reach, each offering historic buildings, churches, manor houses and natural areas. Klosterporten is a natural first stop on a journey of discovery through this part of the country – a place where you quite literally walk through history.

Whether you come for the architecture, the history or simply to soak up the atmosphere, Klosterporten leaves a strong impression. It reminds us that the past is still present in Sorø, and that some buildings have stood for so long that they have become an inseparable part of the town's identity.