An exterior view of Rosenborg Castle features its symmetric garden. The castle’s red brick façade along with its high towers, turrets, and gables are typical of the Dutch Renaissance style, which inspired later Danish architecture. Purportedly, King Christian IV designed some of Rosenborg Castle, along with architects Bertel Lange and Hans van Steenwinckell, in the early 1600s. Originally, the castle was a small pleasure palace but underwent various expansions until 1633, when it finally became the palace we see today. (111 photo/Shutterstock)
In the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, Rosenborg Castle was built as a Renaissance-style pleasure palace. With intricate architectural features and a rich history spanning 400 years, this structure served as the home of the Danish royal family.
Built between 1606 and 1624 by King Christian IV, Rosenborg Castle was one of many impressive palaces he built that are still standing. Rosenborg Castle was King Christian’s personal favorite and served as a venue for many important events.
The Danish royal family used Rosenborg as a summer home until the 18th century. After 1710, the palace instead became a storage space for the crown’s heirlooms. The Danish royal family opened the castle to the public in 1838, displaying a large number of rooms and royal artifacts, showcasing the historical wealth and past lifestyle of the Danish monarchy.
The castle presents stunning Dutch-inspired Renaissance architecture, extensive gardens, and the royal treasury holding the Danish crown jewels, which are among the finest in the world. The palace also houses well-preserved rooms from the 1700s, with furnishings and portraits of Danish monarchs from King Christian IV to King Frederik VII. These include the throne chamber, the Marble Hall, and the Knights’ Hall, opulently furnished with tapestries and lavish furniture.
One of the best-preserved Renaissance castles in the world, Rosenborg Castle shows the daily and festive life of monarchs in Denmark, many centuries ago.
The throne chamber remains almost the same as conceived by Nicolai Abildgaard, a Danish Neoclassical painter and professor at the New Royal Danish Academy of Art. This room boasts strong colors and strict symmetry. The intricately carved coronation throne on the viewer's left is framed by three silver lions, marbled checkered floors, and rich tapestries commemorating battles between Denmark and Sweden. (Sergii Figurnyi/Shutterstock)
The Knights' Hall showcases Denmark’s military heritage, featuring a collection of armor, weaponry, and other historical artifacts. Completed in 1624, this room first served as a ballroom and later became a reception space. King Christian V installed 12 tapestries depicting the king’s triumphs in the Scanian War (1675–1679). Above the tapestries, the stucco ceiling dates from the 18th century and depicts the Danish coat of arms, with four portraits (dark in this photo) by Danish history painter Hendrick Krock displaying the four Regalia: the crown, the orb, the sword, and the scepter. (Andrey Shcherbukhin /Shutterstock)
Originally the bedroom of King Christian IV’s second wife, Kirsten Munk, the marble room showcases the power and wealth of Danish royalty. In 1668, King Frederik III refurnished this room in a highly ornate Baroque style to celebrate the monarchy. The stucco ceiling features putti, chubby winged child figures, carrying the symbols of kingship. The heart-shaped areas surrounding the putti show the individual components of the Danish coat of arms. The walls are covered with imitation marble, which was more costly than real marble at the time, and are also decorated with coats of arms. (Sergii Figurnyl/Shutterstock)
This room was previously Kirsten Munk’s living room and was redecorated by King Frederik III. The central red and gold fireplace dates from the time of King Christian IV and the ceiling painting above depicts an orchestra. King Frederik IV’s court painter, Benoît Le Coffre, is believed to have painted some of the outer and inner ceiling friezes with children dancing and playing. (trabantos/Shutterstock)
King Frederik IV’s hall served as an antechamber for his sister, Princess Sophie Hedevig. It features colorful ceiling panels painted by Anders Niels in 1623 and a rock crystal chandelier with steel arms made by Anton Matthias Joseph Domanöck in Vienna. The walls are covered with Dutch fabrics and portraits of King Christian IV and his family. (mary416/Shutterstock)
This charming room once belonged to Princess Sophie Hedevig. The walls are covered with woven tapestries depicting scenes from Alexander the Great’s life and are originally from a famous workshop in Flanders, Belgium. The parquet floor comes from King Christian VI’s room and was transferred here in about 1870 from Frederiksberg Palace. Many objects and furniture on display relate to King Christian VI’s room and date from the 18th century. (Sergii Figurnyi/Shutterstock)
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