The copper spires of Frederiksborg Palace reflect in the still waters of Palace Lake, creating the illusion of a castle suspended between sky and water. This is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia, a monument to the power and ambition of King Christian IV, who transformed a modest hunting lodge into a magnificent royal residence in the early 17th century. Today, the palace houses the Museum of National History, a collection that traces the cultural and political history of Denmark through portraits, paintings, furniture, and decorative arts spanning 500 years.
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The Great Hall and the Chapel
The palace chapel is one of the most remarkable surviving Renaissance interiors in northern Europe. It stretches the full height of the building, with galleries supported by ornate columns and an altarpiece signed by the German artist Jacob Mores. The chapel escaped the devastating fire of 1859 that destroyed much of the palace, preserving its original 17th-century decoration intact. The organ, built by Esaias Compenius in 1617, is one of the oldest playable organs in the world and is still used for concerts. Above the chapel, the Great Hall, or Knights’ Hall, was rebuilt after the fire and now houses a remarkable collection of paintings depicting Danish history, including the massive canvas showing the coronation of King Christian VI. The hall is 52 metres long and features a coffered ceiling decorated with scenes from the Thirty Years’ War.
The Baroque Gardens and the Museum Collection
The palace gardens are laid out in the formal French Baroque style, with terraced parterres, clipped hedges, and fountains that cascade down the hillside towards the lake. The gardens were restored in the 1990s to their original 18th-century design and offer a peaceful retreat from the busy palace interiors. The Museum of National History occupies the majority of the palace and contains over 200 paintings, including portraits of every Danish monarch from the Middle Ages to the present day. The museum’s collection also includes furniture, porcelain, silver, and textiles that document the changing tastes and social conditions of Danish society over five centuries. The highlight of the collection is the series of paintings by the Danish Golden Age artist C.W. Eckersberg and his students.
Planning Your Visit
Frederiksborg Palace is located in the town of Hillerød, approximately 40 kilometres north of Copenhagen. Trains from Copenhagen Central Station to Hillerød take about 40 minutes, and the palace is a 15-minute walk from the station. The palace is open year-round, though hours vary by season. Admission costs approximately 125 Danish kroner for adults. The gardens are free to enter and open daily. The best times to visit are late spring when the gardens are in full bloom, or autumn when the surrounding woodlands turn golden. Allow at least three hours to explore the palace interiors and gardens properly. The palace cafe serves traditional Danish open sandwiches and pastries, making it an ideal stop for lunch during your visit.
Have you visited the magnificent Renaissance halls of Frederiksborg Palace? Which room or detail captured your imagination?
magnificent Frederiksborg Palace (or castle) is situated on the shores of the lake Slotsø near the town of Hillerød. King Christian IV. began with the construction of the Renaissance chateau in the early 17th century. He built a beautiful palace with the castle church. By 1840 all Danish kings were crowned there. On the walls of the church there are characters and coats of arms of the most famous noble families. The church has also been used as Knight’s Chapel for the Order of the elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog.
Since 1848, Denmark is a constitutional monarchy and kings have not been crowned any more. In 1859 there was a large fire in the castle and the majority of the castle has been destroyed. Restoration has been proceeded with the intention to build a museum of Danish history in the castle. Tourists now pass through magnificently furnished rooms which are divided into different time periods, and can see the rich history of the Danish kingdom. The castle is richly equipped with paintings, furniture and interior decorative accessories. Frederiksborg is the Denmark’s largest gallery of portraits of all kings and queens from the year 1500, along with hundreds of other prominent Danish people.
Frederiksborg Palace is surrounded by a lake and park, which consists of a Baroque French garden and English park. From May to September, you can take tour boat around the castle. The start point is near the main square with city hall and the finish at the castle gardens.
The castle is located in the town of Hillerød, the final lines of the S-train. The city’s history is closely linked to the castle. Before castle construction there stood only a few village houses. Soon the city grew and became a center of commerce. Even today you can do shopping here, as well as in the center of Copenhagen, all the major companies have their own clothing shops here in the shopping street.
Hillerød is a vibrant town with 35,000 inhabitants and a beautiful castle, which is its greatest attraction.
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