The trumpets are blowing in the name of the King
The Museum of National History at Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød was the birthplace of Christian 4, born in 1577, had the castle redesigned into a magnificent renaissance ground in the likes of which no one had never seen in Denmark. The stunning Neptune Fountain in the outer courtyard depicts the gods with trumpets pressed against their lips to assign the direct attention of the world towards the long-standing Denmark – especially to the powerful monarch of the country.
The pompous chapel is one of the main highlights of the museum. Except for Christian 7 all of the absolute monarchs were anointed here in a magnificent rite, where the monarch himself put the crown upon his own head to mark out the blessing of his reign by God. After the anointing of the king the celebration was held in the richly decorated Great Hall where people ate and drank till the break of dawn.
500 years of kings and queens
Till the year 1859 Frederiksborg Castle functioned strictly as a royal residence and as the setting for royal ceremonies but a dramatic fire would change it all. The brewer, J. C. Jacobsen, was first in line to sponsor the rebuilding of the castle, as he was enthusiastic about the idea of creating the ultimate The Danish Museum of National History. In the year 1878 the museum opened to the public, and to this very day you can take a stroll through 500 centuries of well-preserved Danish history. In the many rooms there are countless portraits of stately kings and secretive queens, and the interior of those rooms change according to the historical period you are exploring. The museum also houses a contemporary collection of portraits such as those of Queen Margrethe and Crown Princess Mary.
After the excursion at the castle you can take a walk down the trail-laced baroque garden from the 1720’s. Are you more into wild lands you can call in the romantic county garden, which was landscaped near the castle in the 19th century.
Tapestries, chandeliers and thrones at Slotsholmen
At Christiansborg Palace you get the chance to get close to the contemporary palace that is employing the castle on a number of occasions. Though there is a long and most entertaining history behind Christiansborg Palace, which is worth delving in.
Visit the Ruins below Christiansborg and learn much more about the castles of Slotsholmen through its 800 centuries of history. The current Christiansborg Castle is the third in a row and has existed since 1928.
In the Royal Reception Rooms you can find several opulent chambers. The Great Hall is by far the largest, being able to house 400 prominent guests, and it is also here you can catch the gift for Queen Margrethe’s 50th anniversary; the tapestries of Bjørn Nørgaard. Additionally you can explore the Queen’s Library, the Tower Room and the Throne Room, where the King’s and the Queen’s thrones from Christiansborg Castle before last are placed. Please do remember to run your eye up over the ceiling and enjoy the many lavish chandeliers.
Christiansborg Castle's Chapel was burnt to the ground in 1992, but the now rebuilt chapel was inaugurated in 1826. For a century, princes and princesses have been baptized, confirmed and married in the beautiful, neo-classical chapel. When the king or the queen dies, they are laid in state in castrum doloris in the Palace Chapel before they are taken to their final resting place in Roskilde Cathedral.
The Riding Ground Complex is the single conserved part of the original Christiansborg Palace. In the Royal Stables you can survey the older, royal full-dress carets, the royal horse riding equipment and – naturally – the horses. Above the stables you find the Theatre Museum in the Court Theatre which was tailored to Christian 7 in 1767. Here the court enjoyed theatre as well as opera, and the king sat with his companion and watched the show from the royal box.
Gala at Kronborg
In Elsinore (Helsingør) lies the military fortress and renaissance castle Kronborg Castle, which was built upon an edict issued by Frederik 2 at the end of the 15th century and later rebuilt by his son, Christian 4.The history of Kronborg comprises of fires as well as Swedish cannonballs, but the beauteous Palace Chapel from the 15th century has survived both and witnesses of bygone ages’ pomp and splendor. In the chapel you can see the baroque throne of Christian 4.
No monarch has ever employed Kronborg Castle as a permanent residence, but Frederik 2 and his queen, Sophie, held extravagant galas in the 62 meters long dance hall and on those occasions the King’s Tapestries were draped on the walls. The tapestries display more than 100 Danish monarchs through the ages, but unfortunately most of the tapestries have been lost to time. Fourteen of the 40 King’s Tapestries have survived, seven of which are kept at Kronborg Castle.
The Prince’s Palace
Have you grown tired of castles, go to The National Museum of Denmark where you first and foremost must see the Prince’s Palace from the 1740s. Before the National Museum came into being the primary function of the building was that of a royal residence and most of the beautiful rococo interior has been preserved. To be counted among the original palace rooms is the Great Hall with the lavish stucco ornamented ceiling, where royal galas were being held in bygone times. The place of the Royal Family was always below the red canopy.
At The National Museum of Denmark you can also find an exhibition of the royal absolutism in Denmark, artistic designs in ivory, coconuts and horns from the King’s Kunstkammer along with an additional eight examples of the King’s Tapestries, which are on display at Kronborg Castle.