Frederiksborg Castle

Frederiksborg Castle

Introduction: Built in the 17th century, Frederiksborg Castle, also known as the "Crystal Palace," is located in the small town of Hillerød in northern Zealand, about 35 kilometers from Copenhagen. The castle was originally purchased by King Frederick II, the father of Christian IV. After ascending the throne, Christian IV demolished parts of the original structure and built this Renaissance-style palace on the same site. Completed in 1625, the palace has 60 halls and is the most prominent surviving Renaissance-style building in Northern Europe, often referred to as the "Versailles of Denmark." The main castle of the Crystal Palace features a triangular layout. The front and right wing house the palace, while the left wing is a chapel. In the central courtyard, there is a fountain statue with a Neptune theme, built in 1888. From 1671 to 1840, successive kings were crowned in the chapel of the Crystal Palace. In November 1995, Prince Joachim and Princess Alexandra held their grand wedding ceremony in this chapel.

Until the more modern "Fredensborg Palace" was completed in 1927, Frederiksborg Castle served as the royal residence. In 1859, a major fire destroyed most of the furnishings inside the castle, as well as the roof and spires, leaving only the chapel intact.

In 1876, Jacob Christian Jacobsen, the founder of Carlsberg Brewery and a passionate supporter of cultural endeavors, donated most of the funds needed for the restoration of the castle and proposed turning Frederiksborg Castle into the Danish National History Museum. His proposal was accepted. The Danish National History Museum was established at Frederiksborg Castle in 1878. The museum houses works by famous Danish painters from the 16th century onwards, including a large collection of portraits of notable figures. The Baroque-style garden within the castle was reconstructed in 1996 and features well-known displays such as four sets of boxwood royal monograms, historic floral arrangements, and a festive small waterfall. Admission/Opening Hours: Adults 60 DKK; children 15 DKK. Open Season: Year-round. Opening Hours: 10:00–17:00 from April 1 to October 31; 11:00–15:00 for the rest of the year.

Copenhagen, Denmark