Frederiksborg Castle (in Danish, Frederiksborg Slot) is a palatial complex in Hillerød, Denmark (in Danish, Danmark). Built as a royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway in the early 1800s, it’s the largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia and one of the best castles in Europe!
Adjoined by a large formal garden in the Baroque style, Frederiksborg Castle is situated on three small islets in Castle Lake (in Danish, Slotssøen). Since 1878, the monument has housed the Danish Museum of National History, presenting the country’s largest collection of portrait paintings!
So, do you want to know more about Frederiksborg Castle: Best Tips For Visiting This Year? Keep reading!
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I earn a small commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost. Please read my disclosure & privacy policy for more information.
No time to read now? Pin it for later!
Brief History of Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle was erected to show off King Christian IV’s status as a powerful monarch, replacing an older castle acquired by his father, King Frederik II. Used as a royal residence for 100 years, it was decorated with a stunning Baroque garden and renovated in the early 18th century.
By the end of the 18th century, Frederiksborg Castle was only housing the Danish royal collection of portraits. However, in the mid-19th century, King Frederik VII and his third wife, Louise Rasmussen, moved in, and the monument became relevant again.
After a severe fire in 1859, Frederiksborg Castle was rebuilt thanks to J. C. Jacobsen, the founder of the Carlsberg brewery. After a full restoration, it reopened to the public as the Museum of National History in 1882, displaying 500 years of Danish history through portraits, paintings, furniture, etc.
How to Get to Frederiksborg Castle
In my opinion, the quickest and most practical way to get to Frederiksborg Castle is by car. This is especially true since this monument is one of the best attractions to visit on a road trip through North Zealand (in Danish, Nordsjælland) or even the island of Zealand (in Danish, Sjælland)!
If you don’t have that possibility, you can travel by train from the Danish capital. To do this, you must first take the S-train line A from Copenhagen Central Station (in Danish, Københavns Hovedbanegård or Københavns H) to Hillerød Station and then walk around 1.5 kilometers to Frederiksborg Castle.
Opening Hours & Ticket Prices
Frederiksborg Castle is open every day throughout the year, with different closing times depending on the season: from 10 am to 3 pm (on weekdays, from November to March), or from 10 am to 5 pm (on weekends, from November to March, and from April to October).
TIP: Before your visit, check the opening hours, ticket prices, and other practical information on Frederiksborg Castle’s official website!
The ticket costs 110 DKK (adults) and 90 DKK (students and senior citizens over 65), while children and young people under 18 don’t pay for entrance. Furthermore, Frederiksborg Castle is one of the dozens of attractions in Denmark that accepts the Copenhagen Card!
What to See at Frederiksborg Castle
The Rose
The Rose (in Danish, Rosen) is the largest room on the ground floor of Frederiksborg Castle and also the first space to which visitors have access. Greatly damaged by the fire in 1859, it was reconstructed because of sketches made by the painter Heinrich Hansen.
The Rose was given its name around the year 1740. Before that, it was known as the Knights’ Room (in Danish, Riddersum) and it used to serve as a dining room for the courtiers. Currently, it tries to recreate the atmosphere it had during the time of King Christian IV.
The Chapel
The Chapel (in Danish, Kapel) was designed for King Christian IV and his court, with direct access from the royal chambers. Nevertheless, it has also functioned as a parish church for Hillerød since. And from 1671 to 1840, it hosted the coronations and anointments of almost all the Danish monarchs.
Situated on the first floor of Frederiksborg Castle, the Chapel was one of the few rooms that largely escaped the fire of 1859. For this reason, it’s a unique space with original decoration and several historical treasures – including the organ built by Esaias Compenius in 1610!
The Hall of Valdemar
The Hall of Valdemar (in Danish, Valdemarsalen) was the drawing room of King Christian IV. Due to its location in the northwestern corner of Frederiksborg Castle, it was most inhabitable during the summer season, hence receiving the nickname “The Summer Parlour”.
Nowadays, the Hall of Valdemar presents several large paintings depicting important events in Danish history during the Middle Ages. Hanging from the middle of the ceiling is a copy of the oldest known version of the Danish flag from 1427. The original one was destroyed during the Second World War.
The Rotunda
The Rotunda (in Danish, Rotunden) was furnished in the Baroque style in the 1680s. Its main focal point was its ceiling painting by the artist Peder Andersen (also known as Peder Normand), which represented the personified vices fleeing from King Christian V.
Unfortunately, the Rotunda was also ruined during the fire of 1859. When Frederiksborg Castle was restored in the second half of the 19th century, the artist Christen Nielsen Overgaard created a new ceiling painting inspired by the original one.
The Privy Passage
The Privy Passage is, along with the Audience Chamber, the only 17th-century living quarters in the Frederiksborg Castle that have been preserved. Wrecked by a fire in 1665, this part of the residence was re-established by the architect Lambert van Haven at King Christian V’s behest.
The Privy Passage was conceived as a picture gallery with “draperies” made of stucco (instead of fabric) and wall panels made of wood (instead of stone). A great example of a reception room from the Baroque period, it features decoration details by Italian, French, German, and Dutch artists.
The Audience Chamber
The Audience Chamber (in Danish, Audienssalen) is one of Lambert van Haven’s most celebrated masterpieces. Heavily inspired by the Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the Danish-Norwegian artist glorifies King Christian V throughout this room.
In the Audience Chamber, the absolute monarch Christian V is portrayed as a Roman emperor. The several paintings in the panels of the walls and ceiling are a tribute to him, his family (the House of Oldenburg), and his/their achievements.
The Hall of Angels
The Hall of Angels (in Danish, Englesalen) is one of the most beautiful rooms on the second floor of Frederiksborg Castle. Formerly the bedroom of Queen Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, the mother of King Christian IV, it acquired its present arrangement after the fire of 1859.
Inspired by the Doge’s Palace of Venice, the ceiling of the Hall of Angels was decorated in 1883 by the painter Frans Schwartz. The allegorical pictures represent King Frederik III, with personifications of war, peace, and the fours Estates of the realm: nobility, clergy, commons, and peasants.
The Great Hall
The Great Hall (in Danish, Riddersalen) was only able to be reconstructed after the devastating fire of 1859 thanks to a series of sketches made the year before by two Danish artists: Frederik Christian Lund and Heinrich Hansen.
The Great Hall is dominated by its rich adorned ceiling, with carved wood panels painted in bright colors. As for the walls, they feature several portraits of the royal family and many tapestries about relevant events in Danish history.
Christian VI’s Room
Christian VI’s Room (in Danish, Christian VI’s Tid) was named after Christian VI, the King of Denmark and Norway from 1730 to 1746. Painted in a soothing blue, it showcases many portraits of noble, clerical, political, and cultural figures of the kingdom.
King Christian VI was responsible for the construction of Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen. Some pieces of furniture were brought from that other royal residence to Frederiksborg Castle, such as the chairs featured in the photo!
Baroque Garden
The Baroque Garden (in Danish, Barokhaven) is the most known of the gardens surrounding Frederiksborg Castle. King Christian IV commissioned the architect Johan Cornelius Krieger in 1720, and it’s considered one of Denmark’s oldest palace gardens!
When I visited Frederiksborg Castle, the monument was undergoing various major interventions – both indoors and outdoors. This is the reason why some of the royal residence’s spaces are not mentioned in this guide!
Share this blog post on your social media!
More Posts about Castles and Palaces
Trade Fair Palace: Best Tips For Visiting This Year
Castle Of Amboise: Best Tips For Visiting This Year
Biscainhos Museum: Best Tips For Visiting This Year
Where Do I Make My Reservations?
- Hotels and Accommodation: Booking.com
- Tours and Activities: GetYourGuide
What Photography Gear Do I Use?
- Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless
- Camera Lens: Fujinon XF 18-55 mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS
- Tripod: Manfrotto Compact Action
- Small Tripod: Manfrotto PIXI Mini
- Smartphone Adaptor: Manfrotto PIXI Clamp
- Memory Card: SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO SDXC