Frederiksborg Castle

Built on several islets, Frederiksborg Castle was built by Christian IV in the first decades of the 17th century and is the largest Renaissance building in the Nordic region. The construction was to highlight and strengthen Christian IV's position as a powerful European monarch. That is why the castle is richly decorated with symbolic and decorative elements such as the impressive Neptune Fountain and the marble gallery of the Royal Wing. Since 1878, Frederiksborg Castle has housed the National History Museum, housing 500 years of Danish history through a collection of portraits, historical paintings, furniture, and art. In 1560, Frederik II purchased the Hillerødsholm mansion and built the first part of Frederiksborg Castle. But in the years 1600-1620, his son Christian IV demolished the castle and built the Renaissance castle we know today on its place. While the castle was being built, Christian IV lived in a large Italian-inspired pleasure castle called Sparepenge, which he had built across the lake. Frederiksborg Castle was used as a royal residence for the next hundred years. In 1720, Christian IV's pleasure palace, Sparepenge, was demolished and a beautiful Baroque garden was created in its place. The castle itself was also renovated in the 1730s, but ceased to be used as a royal residence at the end of the 18th century. Instead, it was at Frederiksborg that the collection of royal portraits was assembled. In the mid-19th century, Frederiksborg Castle was given a new life when Frederik VII moved in. Here he married Louise Rasmussen, later to be known as Countess Danner. The royal couple remodeled the castle to make the residence more contemporary. Among other things, they had several tiled fireplaces and stoves installed to heat the large rooms. However, it was one of these new heat sources that caused the castle's great fire in 1859. Much of the interior burned away and in several places only the thick walls remained. The church and courtroom survived the fire. When Frederiksborg Castle had to be rebuilt after the fire of 1859, a land collection and lottery were organized for the castle. The royal family decided that they no longer wanted to use the castle as a residence. The founder of the Carlsberg Brewery, J. C. Jacobsen, proposed that a national history museum be established in the castle and offered to pay for the refurbishment and interior fittings for the museum to function. Frederiksborg Castle Church is a unique space with its original decoration from the time of Christian IV, but the church also contains several historical treasures. While much of the interior of the castle was destroyed by fire in 1859, the church was largely unscathed. In it is the impressive altarpiece of gold, silver and ebony, made by the goldsmith Jacob Mores of Hamburg in 1606. In the gallery is the historic Compenius organ, built in 1610 by Esajas Compenius. Every Thursday at 1:30 p.m. there is a concert on the Compenius organ. The concert is free for museum visitors. During the monarchy (1660-1848), the Danish kings were anointed in the Castle Church, and since 1693 there has been a knight's chapel for the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog. Among the coats of arms and orders that adorn the walls are several that have been given to international heads of state such as Nelson Mandela and prominent Danes such as Mærsk McKinney Møller and Niels Bohr. From the church there is access to the King's Prayer Room, which was one of the most magnificent rooms in Cristián IV's castle, but was unfortunately destroyed in the castle fire of 1859. However, the room was recreated with the inlay of the panels and the ivory decoration of the ceilings, so that today it almost appears as before the fire. The artist Carl Bloch has made the 23 paintings with motifs from the life of Christ that adorn the Prayer Room. Frederiksborg Castle was completed by creating gardens around the large complex of buildings. Christian IV had his own garden of his own, but in 1720 J. Krieger was asked to create a new garden in the castle. The pleasure castle Sparepenge was torn down and a beautiful baroque garden was built, which typically at the time had to be structured symmetrically with roped-off hedges. The baroque garden is not the only garden in the castle. To the left of the baroque garden is a romantic English-inspired garden, where the small pleasure castle Badstueslottet is also located. With its small lakes and bushes, the romantic garden is created to convey moods and showcase the beauty of nature.