One of the most important historical attractions of the capital; palace located on the Danish island of Slotsholmen. This architectural complex was built during the reign of Christian VI and is an excellent example of Baroque. Although the first building on the site of the castle was erected on the initiative of Bishop Absalon back in 1167.

This palace did not last long, as it was burned down by the army of Lübeck in the 13th century. The restored Copenhagen Palace was burned again in the 14th century, but King Christian VI ordered the construction of a new strong castle in 1730, which was named after him. Christiansborg means "Christian's Castle" in Danish. The main architect of the building was E. D. Heuser.

At the end of the 18th century, the castle was damaged by a strong fire, so the royal family settled in Amalienborg for a while. The restoration of the castle was entrusted this time to the visiting architect K. F. Hansen. The chosen style was close to French classicism. Frederick VI did not want to live in the renovated castle, but used it to receive guests. The only monarch who agreed to live in it was Frederick VII.

Since 1849, the Christiansborg building has been used as the seat of the Danish Parliament. In the first half of the 20th century, the palace was rebuilt, resulting in a pseudo-baroque style. Today, the luxuriously decorated royal reception rooms are open to public visits. Here you can see colorful tapestries, valuable paintings and sculptures, and a palace chapel.

The names of the new monarchs of Denmark are announced from the balcony of Christiansborg. In the square at the entrance stands an equestrian statue of King Christian. Lovers of high art can visit the Court Theater and Museum. Thus, for more than eight centuries, this castle has been the center of political and economic power of the country.

There are long canals around the structure. Eight picturesque bridges connect the city of Christiansborg. Geographically, it is located in the old part of the city. You can get there by metro, buses or water transport.

Photo attraction: Christiansborg Castle

One of the main attractions of Copenhagen is located on the Royal Island of Slotsholmen, on the site of an ancient fortress from the 12th century. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the history of this outstanding building.

Palace Island was formed by digging a canal that separated the peninsula in the sea bay from the rest of the land. The first castle on this site was built under Bishop Absalon, the founder of Copenhagen, in 1167. But it didn’t last long - in 1249 it was besieged and burned by the army of Lübeck, with which Denmark was waging trade wars.

The castle, restored later, became known as Copenhagen Castle, but it was also burned - this time by the troops of the Hanseatic League in 1369.

In 1730, King Christian VI, who ascended the throne, decided to build a new castle on the ruins of two previously existing ones and invited the architect Elias David Hauser to do this. The new castle was built in the Baroque style and was completed by 1745. This was the first version of Christiansborg Castle. It stood for almost half a century - until 1794, when a strong fire destroyed it. After this fire, the role of the royal residence began to be played by Amalienborg, to which the royal family moved.

After the fire, the royal family wanted to restore the burnt castle - architect Hansen was invited to do this. Thus, in 1803, construction began on the new Christiansborg in the style of strict French classicism. The construction was completed by 1828, but King Frederick VI did not want to live in it and used the castle only for receptions. The castle housed the Danish Parliament, and the remaining premises served administrative purposes. The only monarch to live in Christiansborg was Frederick VII - he lived here from 1852 to 1863. In 1884, the second castle burned to the ground again.

The author of the third and final version of Christiansborg was the architect Thorvald Jogenson, who won the competition to build a new palace. Modern Christiansborg was built in neo-Borocco style from 1907 to 1928. The roof was originally covered with tiles, but in 1937-1938 they were replaced with copper sheets. A weather vane in the form of two crowns was placed on the castle spire. The finishing touch was the installation of an equestrian statue of Christian IX, who died in 1906, in the castle courtyard. Sculptor Ann Mary Carl Nielson worked on the statue; work began in 1907 and ended only in 1927, when the monument was erected on the square.

Today, the 106-meter castle tower is the tallest building in Copenhagen.

During the construction of the castle, the remains of the ruins of Bishop Absolon's castles and Copenhagen Castle were excavated. The ruins and an exhibition dedicated to them were opened to the public in 1924.

Today, Christiansborg Castle houses the Royal Residence with living and reception quarters, and the Royal Library, containing approximately 80,000 volumes. Part of the castle is dedicated to the Folketing (Danish Parliament), the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister's Office, while the rest functions as a museum. The throne and the interiors of the Throne Room were saved during the fire of 1884 that destroyed the rest of the palace.

Near the Houses of Parliament there is a theater museum, the Royal Arsenal Museum with a collection of ancient clothing, carriages and firearms, as well as working royal stables and a dressage ground.

The total length of the canals surrounding the palace is two kilometers; there are 8 bridges across the canals connecting Christiansborg with the city. Built of granite and copper, the royal palace of Christiansborg has been the center of political power in Denmark for eight hundred years.

About the castle

Christianborg Palace is a Copenhagen landmark that has more than 800 years of history. It is located on the palace island, surrounded by canals, the total length of which is two kilometers. The palace is connected to the city by eight bridges spanning the canal. The palace, built of granite and copper, looks like a powerful and commanding building. It is not for nothing that for eight centuries it has witnessed political battles, being the center of political power and uniting the royal, legislative and judicial powers of the state.

The interior decoration of the palace is impressive with its spaciousness and richness. Here visitors will see the throne and banquet halls and the royal library. The greatest effect is produced by the Great Hall, which is forty meters long and has a ceiling height of ten meters. Its walls are decorated with 17 tapestries depicting key moments in Danish history. Since this palace was built on the site of an ancient fortress, going down into its basements, you can take advantage of the unique opportunity to see the ruins of this fortress.

In the courtyard of the Palace there is a beautiful garden with varied vegetation that changes seasonally. Also in the courtyard is an equestrian statue of Christian IX, created by sculptor Annie Mary Carl Nielson.

On the territory of the palace there are buildings of the theater museum and the royal Arsenal museum, working royal stables and an exit parade ground. In museums you can get acquainted with collections of ancient clothing, firearms and carriages.

Currently, tourists can visit Christianborg, where during excursions they can get acquainted with the halls in which ceremonial banquets are held and high-ranking guests are received, with the Royal Library, with exhibits of the Arsenal Museum and other attractions.

Construction

Due to the fact that Christianborg Palace was rebuilt more than once, its architectural features also underwent changes. The original style in which the palace was built was Baroque. The calling of this style was to glorify absolute monarchical power and exalt the church. Features of the Baroque style are dynamism and curved lines, maximum expressiveness and heaviness of forms, sophisticated decor and decorative pomp. Architectural structures in this style were a demonstration of the wealth and prestige of their owners.

The castle, restored after the first fire, had the style of strict French classicism. The modern Christianborg Palace was built in the neo-Baroque style, which borrowed from the Baroque the magnificent forms and lighting effects, as well as the curved lines and bright colors.

Currently, Christianborg Palace houses the Royal Residence, the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court, and the Office of the Prime Minister on its premises. The free part of the Palace works as a museum.

A street and square in Copenhagen are named in honor of Bishop Absolon, who built the first castles on this island and was the founder of the city. Several sculptures are also dedicated to him.

History of construction

The first buildings of the palace were erected at the beginning of the thirteenth century. The construction of the palace was carried out on the site of a fortress, which was built by the founder of Copenhagen, Bishop Absalon. During its existence, the palace was repeatedly rebuilt and restored.

The island on which Christianborg Palace was built was formed after digging a canal that separated a peninsula located in a sea bay from the land. Bishop Absalone built a castle on this island in 1167, which was not destined to stand for long. At that time, Denmark was in a trade war with the Lübeck army. The castle was besieged in 1249 by an enemy army and burned.

The restored castle suffered the same fate: it was burned in 1369 by the troops of the Hanseatic League.

The first version of the current Christianborg Palace was built on the ruins of these two castles. Its construction was planned by King Christian VI. The author of this project was the architect Elias David Hauser, who was invited by the king. The castle stood in this configuration until 1745, when it was again destroyed by fire.

This time the restoration of the burnt castle was carried out by the architect Hansen. Construction of the second version of the castle lasted from 1803 to 1828. And again there was a fire, which in 1884 completely destroyed the castle.

The third version of Christianborg has survived to this day. Its author is the architect Torvald Jogenson, who managed to win the competition to build this palace. This version of the palace was built in twenty-one years (1907-1928). It originally had a tiled roof, which was later replaced with copper sheets. The castle spire is decorated with a weathervane of two crowns. The tower of the modern palace reaches 106 meters; Copenhagen has no taller structure.

Founders

The founder of the first version of the Christianborg Palace is King Christian VI. The years of his reign were marked by the imposition of a harsh spiritual regime on the entire country. He led a strict and extremely quiet life, but nevertheless left behind significant debts for that time. This is explained by his passion for building grandiose palaces.

By the time construction work was completed after the first fire at Christianborg Castle, the throne was occupied by Frederick VI. But he did not want to live in this castle. The castle was used only for receptions. The Danish Parliament was also housed in the castle building. The free rooms of the castle were used by Frederic VI for administrative purposes.

Frederick VII was the only monarch who lived in Christianborg. Construction of the latest version of the castle, which has survived to this day, began during the reign of Frederick VIII, who focused on the country's defense capabilities. Moreover, the World War was approaching.

Information for tourists

• Kings of Christiansborg - magnificent halls, ruins. Includes a tour of the court theater, royal housing, Christiansborg Castle, as well as a visit to the premises of the palace, the banquet hall with Bjorn Norgaard's tapestries. Duration of the tour: 120 minutes. Price: 95 CZK per person.
• Ruins - a castle on a castle. Duration: 50 min. Price: 30 CZK per person.
• In the footsteps of Caroline Matilda - madness, power, love and death. Includes visits to Christiansborg Castle, royal stables, theater museum, court theater, etc. Duration: 90 min. Price: CZK 95 per person.

Christiansborg Palace (Christiansborg Slot) is the main palace in Denmark, where the country's Parliament meets, the Supreme Court, and the reception rooms of the Prime Minister and the Queen are located here. The tower is the tallest in the city and therefore you can easily find Christiansborg Palace among the many attractions of Copenhagen.

You can visit the palace apartments on a guided tour. Particularly interesting is the Queen's reception room, luxuriously decorated with works of painting and sculpture. In the Knights' Hall there are beautiful tapestries, the drawings of which reproduce scenes from the history of Denmark. As you enter the Throne Room, pay attention to the ceiling, decorated with a fresco depicting the Danish flag - the Dannebrog.

According to legend, during a battle with the pagans, a red flag with a white cross fell from the sky. According to legend, this painting was sent by God and helped win the battle. The red color of the flag is a symbol of battle, and the white cross reminds that the canvas was sent from the sky.

There are also excursions to the library and the Royal Stables, where about 20 horses are kept. You can also visit the palace church, stroll through the park, and on days when there are no parliamentary sessions, look into the working rooms of parliamentarians with a guide.

How to get to Christiansborg Palace

• By metro – Kongens Nytorv or Nørreport station
• By bus No. 1A and 2A, 26 and 40, 66 and 350S to the Bus Harbor or Royal Library stop
• By train: Copenhagen Central or Nørreport Station

Christiansborg Palace opening hours - summer 2019

• Reception halls
  • From April to October from 9:00 to 17:00 daily
• Royal kitchens
  • From November to March from 10:00 to 17:00 daily except Mondays
• Ruin
  • From April to October from 10:00 to 17:00 daily
  • From November to March from 10:00 to 17:00 daily except Mondays
• Royal Mews
  • In July from 10:00 to 17:00 daily
  • From April to June and from August to October from 13:30 to 16:00 daily
  • From November to March from 13:30 to 16:00 every day except Monday
• Chapel
  • every Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00
  • all July every day
• Theater Museum
  • daily, except Monday, from 12:00 to 16:00
• Visit Parliament (Folketing) depends entirely on its operating mode. As a rule, meetings of parliamentarians are open, but at the request of deputies or the chairman of the Presidium, closed meetings may be held. Excursions are accompanied by a guide, an employee of the Folketing

Ticket prices to Christiansborg Palace - summer 2019

Combination ticket with admission to the Reception Rooms, Royal Kitchen, Ruins and Royal Mews

• For adult visitors - 160 CZK
• For students - 140 CZK

Royal Reception Rooms (including the Great Hall with tapestries)

• For adult visitors - 95 CZK
• For students - 85 CZK
• For children under 18 years old - free

Royal Kitchen

• For students – 50 CZK
• For children under 18 years old - free

Ruin

• For adult visitors - 60 CZK
• For students - 50 CZK
• For children under 18 years old - free

Royal Mews

• For adult visitors - 60 CZK
• For students - 50 CZK
• For children under 18 years old - free

Chapel

• the entrance is free

Parliament

Entrance to public galleries free during parliamentary work. Guided Parliament Tours free.

From the history

Christiansborg Palace is a unique building - it was built on the site of a fortress built during the founding of Copenhagen in 1167. Under the foundation, the ruins of that ancient structure built by the founder of the capital of Denmark, Bishop Absalon, have been preserved.

However, the fortress did not stand for long, in 1249 it was burned by soldiers of the German city of Lubeck, and in 1369 by the troops of the Hanseatic League, of which Lubeck was the capital.

The building we see now is the third palace building, and the first Christiansborg Palace on the site of the destroyed fortress was built by order of King Christian VI in 1736. But it was also not spared by fires - during its history it was restored and rebuilt several times.

Since 1849, when Denmark became a constitutional monarchy, part of the building was transferred to the Parliament (Folketing).

Christiansborg Palace, which we see today, was built under the direction of the architect Thorvald Jogenson in 1907-1928 in the neo-Baroque style. The height of the tower is 106 meters, on its top there are two crowns.

In front of Christiansborg Palace there is an equestrian sculpture of King Christian IX, who occupied the Danish throne for more than 42 years (from 1863 to 1906).

The palace has a shop that, in addition to souvenirs, sells jewelry, textiles and porcelain, as well as guidebooks and literature about Denmark. There is no restaurant or cafe for general access. At the same time, you can dine at nearby establishments with a 10% discount by presenting a ticket to visit the Royal Reception Room, the Ruins or the Royal Mews.

Christiansborg Palace - official website

• Official website address - kongeligeslotte.dk/en
• The address of the official website of the Folketing is www.ft.dk

Christiansborg Palace is an important historical landmark in Copenhagen. In addition, all three branches of government in the country are located here in one complex - legislative (Folketing), executive (Prime Minister) and judicial (Supreme Court), which can be called a unique phenomenon.

• Address: Prins Jørgens Gård 1, 1218 København, Denmark
• Telephone: +45 33 92 64 92
• Website: christiansborg.dk
• Email: [email protected]
• Start of construction: 1733
• Opening: 1928
• Architect: E. D. Huyser
• Working hours: 10.00 – 17.00
• Cost of visit: adult – 110 DKK, student – ​​95 DKK, child – 55 DKK

The majestic Christiansborg Palace in (Christiansborg Slot) is one of those original ones, the inspection of which will help you better understand the spirit of the Danish capital and touch its history. This majestic building rises in the old part of the city, on the island of Slotsholmen. The first stones for its construction were laid more than 10 centuries ago, but since then its original appearance has changed dramatically thanks to numerous destructions, reconstructions and restorations.

In 1167, Christiansborg Palace actually did not exist: an ordinary, unremarkable building was erected in its place. However, centuries of wars and natural disasters left their mark on him, so the building was rebuilt into a palace in the 1733-1740s, and the layout was close to modern. In 1778-1779, the famous painter N.A. Abilgor had a hand in decorating the building, placing in it his own painted canvases depicting scenes from Danish history, and then supplemented them with 10 desudéportes (decorative compositions located above the door) in 1791.

Since 1849, the Danish parliament has met in Christiansborg, located almost in the center of Copenhagen. In 1884, there was a great fire in the palace, after which it was restored by Jørgensen, who gave it some features of the neo-Baroque architectural style.

Now Christiansborg still remains a royal residence, where receptions and other events of national importance are held. The length of the canals surrounding the palace is 2 kilometers, and 8 bridges connect the castle to the city. The palace premises remain primarily under the jurisdiction of the Danish parliament, the Folketing. The courtroom of the Supreme Court of Denmark and the office of the Danish Prime Minister are also located here.

The most remarkable element of the building, visible to tourists even from afar, is the palace tower 106 m high, the spire of which is decorated with two crowns. Some areas of Christiansborg Castle are available for tours. Among them:

• a park decorated with magnificent fountains and monuments;
• royal reception rooms, richly decorated with one-of-a-kind paintings and statues and famous for their luxurious interiors;
• the palace chapel (descendants of the Danish royal dynasty are still married and baptized there);
• a room with original tapestries that local businessmen presented to Queen Margrethe;
• the ruins of the ancient Copenhagen fortress and a medieval castle that belonged to Bishop Absalon.

In the royal chambers, a special impression is made by the reception hall, where ceremonial events such as dinners, banquets, etc. are held. The Knight's Hall is decorated with a collection of tapestries that were presented to Queen Margrethe in 1990 for her 55th birthday. These works of art by Björn Nøgård depict the thousand-year history of the Danish kingdom. The ceiling of the Throne Room is decorated with a fresco dedicated to the legend of the Danish flag of the Dannebrog. According to legend, God himself gave it to the Danes, which helped them win the battle in Estonia.

Tourists interested in history and art should definitely check out the Court Theater and its museum, as well as visit the library and stables. The Royal Library contains approximately 80,000 volumes. Now there are about 20 horses living in Christiansborg Palace, mostly white and speckled. Also worthy of attention is the equestrian statue of the famous monarch Christian, which greets guests of the castle at the entrance to it.

If there are no parliamentary sessions, you may be allowed to look into the workrooms of deputies. During meetings, tourists are allowed to attend the debates of people's representatives free of charge, but only with a guide. You will also remember for a long time the exhibition of royal carriages, some of which were given to the monarchs by their contemporaries themselves. In the local museum you can also see collections of ancient clothing and firearms.

The beauty of the castle is that it carefully preserves the history of Denmark, which, of course, will be of interest to foreign travelers. Thus, many paintings and statues depict kings and members of their families, and the walls of some rooms are draped with red Syrian silk, the secret of which has recently been lost. Metal bas-reliefs also look impressive as decorative elements.

To get to the castle you should take buses 1A, 2A, 15, 26 or 29 and get off at the Børsen (København) stop. Trains also go there: from Copenhagen Central Station or Nørreport Station the building is just a stone's throw away.

The nearest metro stops are Kongens Nytorv or Nørreport stations. It will also be interesting to visit several more castles located in the Danish capital - and.