Jægerspris Castle

Lore & Background

Until 1677 the estate was known as Abrahamstrup, a name possibly referencing King Valdemar II's son Abel. In 1673 it passed into private ownership when acquired by jægermester Vincents von Hahn, who renamed it Jægerspris in 1677. The castle returned to royal ownership in 1679. After Frederick IV's ascent to the throne in 1699, he used it as a summer residence before giving it to his younger brother Prince Charles of Denmark in 1703. Prince Charles carried out a comprehensive expansion, adding an extra storey to the south wing and a twin tower for symmetry. The adaptions were completed in 1722.

After Prince Charles' death in 1729, Crown Prince Christian (VI) took over the estate, and it served as a hunting lodge for Danish monarchs until ceded to the Danish state in 1849. King Frederik VII acquired Jægerspris Castle on 21 April 1854, his wife's birthday, as a private retreat. They renovated the castle with architect Johan Henrik Nebelong. After Frederik's death in 1863, Countess Danner opened part of the castle as a historic house museum in 1866. In 1873 she founded the Frederick VII's Foundation for Poor Women from the Working Class, and on her death she left the castle to benefit poor and destitute servant girls. She also made changes and additions to the castle's interiors and collections after Frederik VII's death.

The park features 54 monuments by Johannes Wiedewelt from around 1770, commemorating famous Danish and Norwegian men, as well as Countess Danner's burial mound and Herman Wilhelm Bissen's bust of Frederik VII. Large oak trees in the southern section were planted by Frederik V for naval timber, and to the north are avenues of lime trees.

Reader's Guide

Jægerspris Castle's significance lies in its long royal history and its transformation under King Frederik VII and Countess Danner. The castle became a symbol of their controversial marriage and a refuge from establishment criticism. After the king's death, Countess Danner's creation of a museum and a foundation for poor women ensured the castle's legacy as both a historical site and a charitable institution. The park's 54 monuments by Johannes Wiedewelt form a unique memorial landscape honoring Danish and Norwegian figures. The castle also gained modern cultural notoriety as the main location for the 1974 Danish film 'I Tyrens tegn', a commercially successful sex comedy. Today, the castle operates as a historic house museum, preserving the interiors as they were in the 19th century and offering insight into the lives of its royal residents and the social history of the period.

Did You Know?

• The castle was originally called Abrahamstrup until 1677, when it was renamed Jægerspris, meaning 'Hunter's Praise'.
• Prince Charles added a twin tower to the southern facade in the early 18th century to create symmetry.
• The park contains 54 monuments erected by sculptor Johannes Wiedewelt around 1770, commemorating famous Danes and Norwegians—but only men, not women.