Frederiksborg Castle
Largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia, now a national history museum.
Bjoertvedt · CC BY-SA 3.0
Frederiksborg Castle, known in Danish as Frederiksborg Slot, is a grand palace complex in Hillerød, Denmark. It was constructed as a royal home for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway at the start of the 1600s, taking the place of an earlier castle that Frederick II had obtained. It stands as the largest Renaissance residence in all of Scandinavia. The complex sits on three small islands within the Slotssøen (castle lake) and is connected to a large, formal Baroque garden.
Following a major fire in 1859, the castle was reconstructed using old plans and paintings as guides. With financial help from the public and the brewer J. C. Jacobsen, the rooms were completely restored. The castle reopened to the public in 1882 as the Danish Museum of National History. The museum is open year-round and holds Denmark’s biggest collection of portrait paintings. Visitors can also tour several of the castle’s state rooms, such as the restored Valdemar Room and Great Hall, as well as the Chapel and the Audience Chamber. These last two rooms largely escaped the fire and still feature lavish decorations. During the renovation work, a fire truck was kept permanently parked inside the castle.
**History**
**Origins**
The estate, originally called Hillerødsholm, was located near Hillerød and had long belonged to the Gøye family, one of Denmark’s noble houses. In the 1520s and 1530s, Mogens Gøye (around 1470–1544), who served as Steward of the Realm, helped bring the Danish Reformation to the country. He lived in a half-timbered building on the northernmost of three connected islets on the estate’s lake. The property was named Hillerødsholm, meaning “islet of Hillerød.” After his daughter, Birgitte, married the courtier and naval hero Herluf Trolle in 1544, the couple became the owners. In the 1540s, Trolle replaced the old building with a larger manor house.
In 1550, Frederick II, who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1559 to 1588, made a trade with Herluf Trolle and his wife. Trolle received the manor of Skovkloster in southern Zealand, and the king gained the Hillerødsholm Estate. Because the old building with its twin towers was too small for the king, he arranged for extensions and additions in 1560, with Trolle overseeing the work. At the king’s request, Trolle stayed on the site until the project was finished.
- Location
- Hillerød, Denmark
- Built
- Early 17th century
- Architectural style
- Flemish and Dutch Renaissance (Northern Mannerism)
- Original purpose
- Royal residence for King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway
- Current use
- Danish Museum of National History (since 1882)
- Notable event
- Treaty of Frederiksborg signed in July 1720
Lore & Background
The estate originally known as Hillerødsholm belonged to the Gøyes, a noble family. In the 1520s and 1530s, Mogens Gøye lived in a half-timbered building on the most northerly of three adjoining islets. After his daughter Birgitte married Herluf Trolle in 1544, Trolle replaced the old building with a larger manor house. In 1550, Frederick II acquired the estate through an exchange agreement with Trolle, renamed it Frederiksborg, and used it as a royal hunting lodge. The most important building from Frederick II's times is the Bath House, completed in 1581 in the Renaissance style. The original Neptune Fountain was taken as war booty by Swedish forces in 1659. Frederiksborg Castle was not the first Danish castle built inland; earlier castles like Sønderborg Castle and Koldinghus were built inland. It was also not the first built for purely recreational purposes; earlier castles like Kronborg had recreational and residential purposes.
Reader's Guide
Frederiksborg Castle holds significance as the largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia and as the site of the Danish Museum of National History, which contains the largest collection of portrait paintings in Denmark. The castle was the scene of coronations and anointments of Danish monarchs from 1671 to 1840, and the Treaty of Frederiksborg was signed there in July 1720, ending the Great Northern War. After the devastating fire in 1859, the castle was rebuilt using old plans and paintings, with funding from public subscription, the king, the state, and brewer J. C. Jacobsen. The museum opened to the public in 1882. The castle's architecture follows Flemish and Dutch Renaissance tradition, with red brick, stepped gables, towering spires, and light sandstone decorations. The Chapel, Audience Chamber, and Privy Passage were largely spared by the fire and contain sumptuous decorations. The castle is open throughout the year and provides visitors access to state rooms including the restored Valdemar Room and Great Hall.
Did You Know?
- Frederiksborg Castle was the first Danish castle built inland; all previous castles had been on the coast or close to ports.
- The castle was the first Danish castle built for purely recreational purposes rather than for defence.
- During the fire in 1859, a fire truck was permanently parked in the castle while renovation was ongoing.
- The original Neptune Fountain by Adrian de Vries was taken to Sweden; a copy donated by J. C. Jacobsen was placed in the outer courtyard in 1888.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Frederiksborg Castle?
Frederiksborg Castle is a sprawling royal palace complex in Hillerød, Denmark, erected in the early 1600s as a grand residence for King Christian IV. It holds the distinction of being the largest Renaissance-style royal residence found anywhere in Scandinavia.
Who commissioned Frederiksborg Castle and when was it built?
King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway ordered the construction at the start of the 17th century, replacing an older fortress that Frederick II had previously acquired. The design follows Flemish and Dutch Renaissance traditions, a style sometimes referred to as Northern Mannerism.
What is Frederiksborg Castle used for today?
Since 1882 the castle has operated as the Danish Museum of National History, displaying artifacts that trace the country's past. Visitors can still explore the original state rooms and walk through the formal Baroque gardens that border the three islands on which the complex sits.
What happened to Frederiksborg Castle in the 1859 fire?
A devastating blaze in 1859 gutted much of the interior, destroying centuries of decoration and furnishings. The structure was subsequently rebuilt by relying on historical drawings and paintings as guides to restore the rooms to their original appearance.
Why is Frederiksborg Castle historically significant?
Beyond its status as Scandinavia's largest Renaissance palace, the castle is the site where the Treaty of Frederiksborg was signed in July 1720, ending a major conflict. It also stands as a remarkable surviving example of early 17th-century royal architecture set across three islands in a castle lake.
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