MUST SEE DANISH CASTLES

As the Danish Monarchy can be traced back to the 8th century with Gorm the Old, there have been a lot of castles that have since popped up in Denmark. And while each castle is more grandiose than the last, the ones I note in this article are just a handful of the beautiful castles that you can see in Denmark. More specifically, these are castles that can either be found in Copenhagen or can be easily accessed with public transportation from Copenhagen.

Rosenborg Castle

To start off strong (and with my favorite), we have Rosenborg Castle. Four Danish kings have resided here, the first being Christian IV, who had the structure erected in the early 1600s. You can see his audience rooms as well as his bedchamber, where he passed away, in 1648. The gardens were also laid out during his reign, and are a focal point of the center of Copenhagen today. The gardens are absolutely stunning, and free to visit. While a ticket is required to access the interior of Rosenborg Castle, it is well worth it. Specifically, you have the opportunity to see not only the coronation thrones, but also the Danish crown jewels. I really enjoyed the furniture, the sumptuous ultra-decorated walls, and the overall aesthetic of Rosenborg Castle.

Amalienborg Palace

Amalienborg Palace is another royal structure in the heart of Copenhagen, and is actually the current royal residence. Time your visit around the changing of the guards, which happens in front of Amalienborg in the palace square. Every day, The Royal Life Guard marches from the barracks by Rosenborg Castle through the streets of Copenhagen to Amalienborg. The guards arrive to Amalienborg Palace at noon, and then the changing of the guards begins! The size of the guard and musical support depends on who is in residence at Amalienborg Palace at the time. When we were there, the guard was small but stately, and the crowd was very respectful. I was impressed that no railings had to be used, as everyone lined up exactly how the police instructed. The police even handed out little mementos to children! Once the changing of the guard is over, head inside the palace. Here you can visit the Amalienborg Museum, where you can view private interiors and an exhibit on the monarchy today. (I myself preferred the interior of Rosenborg Castle to that of Amalienborg Palace.)

Christiansborg Palace

This is the third and last palace on our list that is in Copenhagen. While Amalienborg Palace is the current royal residence, Christiansborg Palace served as the Royal Palace up until 1794. Today, it still holds importance, as it houses the Danish Parliament, ruins under the palace, royal reception rooms, and a tower that is open to the public to take in sweeping views of the city. As a germaphobe myself, I was impressed when we were instructed to put booties on over our shoes as we entered the palace. The rooms are vast and commanding, and if you arrive just an hour before closing, you pretty much have the palace to yourself. I particularly liked the magnificent oil painting on canvas of Christian IX of Denmark and his family, painted in 1886.

Kronborg Castle

Just an hour away from Copenhagen by train is the castle that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet: Kronborg Castle. This impressive Renaissance castle, erected in the 1500s, is positioned at the narrowest part of the Sound, a stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden. For hundreds of years, anyone who wanted to pass through this part of the Sound had to pay a toll at the castle, which led to a great amount of income but also a rise in political power. The control of the Sound meant important alliances were forged and strategic seafaring decisions made. However, Kronborg Castle was not all political agreements and imposing fortresses – this castle was a place to party. In fact, the parties were so over the top that at one point, Kronborg was known as Europe’s wildest nightclub. Unfortunately, in 1629, Kronborg burned down and only the chapel remained. Luckily, the castle was reconstructed almost exactly as it was before the incident and today invites visitors to view the majesty that is Kronborg Castle.

Frederiksborg Castle

Frederiksborg Castle was once inhabited by several Danish monarchs, the first of which was King Christian IV, who commissioned the construction of the castle. The magnificent palatial complex sits on three islets in the middle of Castle Lake. Once you take a 30-minute train ride from Copenhagen, you will step off the train and actually walk around this lake to get to the castle itself. I was most impressed with the meticulously manicured Baroque gardens, impressive halls, and the Castle Chapel, which is adorned in gold. Frederiksborg Castle has also housed The Museum of National History since 1878, and competes in my mind as the best part of the complex. (Though there really is no competition when you consider the cat that we found in the gardens!)

Happy castle hopping!