For the traveler who loves castles, Copenhagen has them in abundance, from various periods of history and excellently preserved. The Danish word for castle is "slot," and the slots of its capital, Copenhagen, range from the Rococo residence of the Danish royal family, Amalienborg, to the fairy-tale turrets of Rosenborg, built during the Renaissance era in Denmark.
Christiansborg Slot
- Located on the tiny island of Slotsholmen at the very heart of Copenhagen -- and accessible by means of numerous bridges -- Christiansborg has been the base of power for the kingdom of Denmark for more than 800 years, first as the site of Bishop Absalon's original 12th-century castle, which was destroyed by the Hanseatic League in 1369. Copenhagen Castle was erected on top of the original castle and was rebuilt several times over several centuries. The first Christiansborg Palace, a magnificent Baroque building, was completed in 1745 but destroyed by fire in 1794; only the Riding Ground Complex remained. The second Christiansborg Palace was built between 1803 and 1828 in the Neo-Classical style of the time; this building also succumbed to fire in 1884, although parts were saved. The third and present edition of Christiansborg dates from the early 1900s and is shared between the Danish Royal Family and the Danish Parliament. Most of the buildings in Christiansborg are open to the public, including the ruins, with guided tours in English available.
Amalienborg Slot
- The permanent residence of the Danish Royal Family, the Amalienborg complex consists of four Rococo palaces built around an octagon in the elegant neighborhood of Frederiksstaden in downtown Copenhagen. Built in the 1750s by the Danish architect Nicolai Eigtved, Amalienborg was never planned for royalty but instead as four individual residences for high-ranking members of the aristocracy; but when Christiansborg burned down in 1794, King Frederik VI took over Amalienborg, and it has remained as the royal residence ever since. It includes Christian VII's Palace; Christian VIII's Palace; Frederik VIII's Palace, the official residence of Crown Prince Frederik and his family; and Christian IX's Palace, the official residence of Queen Margrethe II and her husband, Henrik, the prince consort. In the middle stands the equestrian statue of King Frederik V by French sculptor Jacques Saly, an extravagant and expensive commission reputed to have cost more than the rest of Amalienborg. Only Christian VIII's Palace is currently open to the public since it houses the Amalienborg Museum.
Rosenborg Slot
- Built between 1606 and 1634 on the orders of King Christian IV, Rosenborg Slot was planned as a "summer residence" outside the city walls. Since that time the city has expanded, and Rosenborg is now a five-minute walk from central Copenhagen, surrounded by one of the city's most pleasant parks, Kongens Have, or the King's Gardens. Thousands visit Rosenborg Castle annually, not only for its lavish, beautifully preserved rooms and Renaissance artifacts, but also to catch a glimpse of the Danish crown jewels, which are housed in the well-guarded confines of the palace basement.
Greater Copenhagen: Frederiksborg and Kronborg
- Castle lovers shouldn't limit themselves to downtown; two of Europe's best-preserved castles are less than an hour away from Copenhagen by train. The first, Frederiksborg, is situated near the town of Hillerod and is a Renaissance masterpiece that dates from the early 1600s. This magnificent castle is surrounded by gardens to rival Versailles and is home to the Danish Museum of National History. From mid-May to mid-September, it's possible to reach the castle by boat across the lake. The second, Kronborg, is famous throughout the world as the site of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." A UNESCO World Heritage site, Kronborg is in Elsinore, overlooking the sound between Denmark and Sweden -- strategically situated at its narrowest point. Built between 1574 and 1585, its 203-foot banquet hall is the longest in Northern Europe, and its damp and eerie casemates can also be explored. In August, the castle hosts open-air performances of "Hamlet" by internationally acclaimed theaters.
