It now affords access to the grounds of Sorø Academy, which include the old abbey church, Denmark's longest church building, and is claimed to be the oldest inhabited house in Denmark.

Until the late 19th century it was white-washed and could originally be closed by two massive doors in oak.

Its interior has a central tile stone column supporting four groin vaults.

The gatehouses still contains a residence for one of the teachers at Sorø Academy, making it the oldest inhabited building in Denmark.

Over the years, apart from its original use, it has served as a coal storage facility, a jailhouse and an exhibition space.