Frederiksborg Castle: The Beautiful Versailles of Denmark

I visited the castles in Copenhagen (plus Kronborg) when I studied abroad there, but I actually didn’t make it out to Frederiksborg Castle until my recent trip! Frederiksborg Castle is just outside the city, and this Versailles of Denmark is definitely worth a visit 🙂

Visiting Frederiksborg Castle

Located right outside Copenhagen, visiting Frederiksborg Castle is easy! You can take the B train to the cute town of Hillerød and walk 20 minutes to the castle or take a bus. If the weather is nice, I recommend walking so you can see some of Hillerød.

Frederiksborg Castle is called the Versailles of Denmark (although some people think Fredensborg Castle is more similar to Versailles, but that palace isn’t as impressive as Frederiksborg and isn’t open to the public) because they were built in similar Renaissance styles. Frederiksborg Castle is actually older than the real Versailles, but I could definitely see the resemblance in the gardens!

Frederiksborg Castle was built for King Christian IV in the 17th century, and it was the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia. Even though it’s outside Copenhagen, the castle’s chapel was place for coronations of Danish rulers except Christian VI from 1671 to 1840. There was a serious fire in the 1800s, but the castle was restored to its original look.

To visit the castle, it costs 75 DKK (currently about $12 USD), and they have a discount for students!

The chapel was one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen! There was so much gold

Replica of one of the Jelling Stones!

#ceilinggoals

Frederiksborg Castle has hundreds of paintings, and it has the largest collection of portraits in Denmark. They also have lots of statues and on the top floor, they have a photography exhibit! My favorite parts were the furniture and decor, and I love how different everything was in each room. You definitely need to tour the whole castle so you don’t miss anything!

I love old clocks!

After touring the castle, you should check out the gardens! Frederiksborg Castle sits on a lake with the gardens on the other side, and it’s a beautiful area to walk around or just relax and take in the sights. The garden was designed in the Baroque style in the 1700s, and it still looks the same today. It has four terraces on a hill, so you can climb to the top for the best views.

They had sword fighting lessons!

My favorite view of Frederiksborg Castle is from across the lake in Hillerød! You’ll get this view if you walk from the castle to the train station

So visiting Frederiksborg Castle and seeing the Versailles of Denmark is a must when you’re in Copenhagen! Inside and outside the castle are so beautiful, and it’s worth the short trek from the city 🙂

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