Teglgaardsparken
A Town Within a Town
The “Asylum at Middelfart”, as it was officially called until 1911, was constructed between 1884 and 1888 under the supervision of building inspector Vilhelm Valdemar Pedersen. The self-sufficient complex had its own gas and waterworks. Set in a 36-hectare park, Pedersen created an impressive, strictly symmetrical layout in a restrained Italian Renaissance style, rich in architectural details.
The site originally consisted of 21 buildings arranged around a central main building, which housed the administration, chapel hall, assembly hall, and the chief physician’s residence.
The economic facilities were positioned along the main axis, while the patient wards were arranged on either side — men on one side, women on the other. The only buildings that broke from this symmetry were the epidemic ward and the chapel, both placed slightly apart. Later, additional structures such as staff housing and a tuberculosis station were added around the original complex, partly respecting the historic layout.
Today, the area has become a thriving small town within the town, home to modern businesses, residences, a school, and several public and educational institutions.
The Psychiatric Collection (Psychiatric Museum)
The Psychiatric Collection is located in Teglgårdsparken, in one of the former patient wards of the Middelfart Psychiatric Hospital. The museum presents a fascinating exhibition about daily life and conditions at the institution from its founding in 1888 until its closure in 1999.
The beautiful surroundings overlooking the Fænøsund Strait were deliberately chosen, as it was believed that nature and calm would bring peace to the mind — an essential part of psychiatric care at the time. The museum offers a captivating journey through the lives of patients and staff, featuring original instruments, furniture, clothing, and room interiors from the historic hospital.
An Authentic Experience with Sound Effects
As you walk through the exhibition, integrated sound effects, recorded in collaboration with former patients, create an extraordinarily authentic atmosphere.
A combined ticket provides entry to all three museums: the Middelfart Museum, the Psychiatric Collection, and Henner Friiser’s House.