Frederiksborg Castle had been on my list of places to go ever since I moved to Copenhagen last summer, and this week I was excited to finally visit. We hopped on the commuter train and took the hour-long trip to the town of Hillerød. The castle is easily reachable from the train station, and the walk offers a fantastic view of it across the lake, as well as a nice stroll through town. Frederiksborg Castle sits on the shores of a picturesque lake, overlooking a sprawling garden. Extensively renovated in the Renaissance style by King Christian IV in the early 17th century, it’s the largest castle of its kind in Scandinavia.
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| Frederiksborg Castle, Hillerød |
Crossing the bridge over the moat, and heading under the stone archway, we were met with the stunning Neptune Fountain in the courtyard of the towering castle. Heading inside, we began our tour of the castle, which houses the National Historic Museum. We began with the massive chapel, a gorgeous space spanning two floors and featuring coats of arms from all over the world. From there, we progressed through the a series of beautifully furnished rooms featuring Danish royalty, luminaries, and statesmen through the centuries.
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| The chapel |
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| The Royal bedroom |
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| The Great Hall |
Reaching the Great Hall, we discovered an exhibition featuring the dresses of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe II from her childhood to present day. The collection includes ballgowns, her wedding dress, and some of her own designs including a famous floral raincoat.
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| Queen Margrethe’s dresses |
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| The Queen’s favourite coat |
Leaving the castle, we headed to the Baroque gardens, where we got another stunning view from the other side of the lake. Boat tours run around the lake throughout the day in ‘Lille Færge’ – the little ferry. Then it was back into town to get some lunch and do a little exploring. We headed to Café Valentin on Slotsgade, the main street, where we had a delicious burger and hot sandwich in a nice cozy setting. After wandering the shops, we finished our day in Hillerød with a coffee at Kaffebar Normann Blichfeldt, a quirky spot with unique decor and a great selection of treats. Then it was back on the train to Copenhagen, another incredible place checked off the list, with many more left to discover.
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