Royal Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen

Amalienborg is the royal palace in Copenhagen, which today is the residence of the ruling royal family. The castle is notable for its history, original architecture, and also attracts tourists with an unusual sight - a change of honor guard.

Photo: Royal Palace in Copenhagen

General information

Amalienborg Palace is considered to be one of the most beautiful Danish castles. The main feature of the palace structure is not only a visiting card of the Danish capital, but also a living space. Queen Margrethe and her family live in the castle.

Good to know! The Amalienborg palace complex is rococo-styled, and the buildings are built with facades to each other, forming a small area. The attraction is on the list of the most visited in Denmark.

Prior to the construction of the royal palace in Copenhagen, namely in 1673, a castle was erected on the square, which was named in honor of the wife of the reigning monarch Frederick III - Sofia Amalia. Sophie Amalienborg Palace served as the residence for the royal couple until 1689. Unfortunately, the strong fire that occurred in the court theater completely destroyed the castle.

During the reign of Frederick V, construction began on a modern palace complex consisting of four buildings. The monarch ordered the completion of construction work for the centenary of the coronation of the founder of the monarchy of the Oldenburg dynasty - Christian I.

Interesting fact! Construction work lasted 4 years and ended in 1754. However, initially the royal family lived in Christiansborg Castle and moved into the new palace only after a fire in the old residence in 1794.

Palace structure

Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen consists of four buildings named after monarchs and princes. The first, in 1754, the mansion of Christian VII was built. Then the construction of the Christian VIII building was completed. These two parts of the complex are open for tourists and free visits, and the other two mansions are the chambers of the ruling royal family, entry is prohibited.

Initially, the mansion was named after the General Chancellor of Denmark - Adam Moltke. The most interesting are two elegant premises:

• Knight's Hall;
• banquet room.

The interiors of the chambers are recognized as the best rooms decorated in the Rococo style in Europe. The front part is decorated with sculptures by masters from Germany. Today, the royal family uses the mansion to receive honored guests and special occasions.

In the late 18th century, architect Caspar Frederick Hardsdorff designed a covered colonnade that connected the two parts of the palace complex.

Interesting to know! Christian VII Mansion is the most luxurious part of Amalienborg.

Today in this part of the castle is the Amalienborg Museum. The first name of this part of the palace complex - Levetsau - in honor of the royal adviser. At the end of the 18th century, the castle was acquired by the prince of Denmark to settle next to his son and future monarch of Denmark - Christian VIII. After that, the palace was renamed in his honor. The royal couple turned the residence into the center of the cultural life of Copenhagen. The king and queen patronized creative people.

Since 1881, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was located in the palace, and in 1898 the crown prince occupied the palace chambers, who ascended the throne in 1912 and became the Danish monarch Christian X.

Interesting fact! His wife was the great-granddaughter of Emperor of Russia Nicholas I - Alexandrina Mecklenburg-Schwerinskaya.

In 1980, the building was restored and a museum was opened. Here is part of the royal collection (another exhibition is presented at the Rosenborg Palace in Copenhagen). The collection contains items belonging to four generations of the royal family.

Today, the Crown Prince and his family live in these chambers. Previously, the mansion was named after Count Joachim Brockdorff. For 20 years, from 1768 to 1788, the Cadet Academy was located in the building, then the Naval Academy, and only in 1827 the future Danish monarch Frederick VII settled here. Since 1869, King Frederick VIII lived in the palace, and since 1936, the father of the current Queen of Denmark Margrethe II, Frederick IX, occupied the chambers.

In 2000, a large-scale reconstruction of the palace in Copenhagen began, which lasted 10 years. At the end of the work, the Danish crown prince and his family moved to the castle.

This part of Amalienborg is the official residence of the royal family - Queen Margrethe II and her husband Prince Henrik. Initially, the palace was called Shakk, in honor of the first owner - Countess Anna Sofia Shakk. Then the monarch Frederick VI lived in the castle, after his death the building was given to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Supreme Court. In 1890, King Christian IX occupied the apartment. From 1967 to the present day, Queen Margrethe II and her family have occupied the chambers.

Interesting fact! If the queen is in Copenhagen, the national flag is hoisted above the castle. Every day at 12-00 a change of the guard takes place at the palace.

Practical information

Amalienborg in Copenhagen is located on the eponymous square and is the hallmark of the Danish capital. The road to the castle will tell every local. You can get there by buses No. 1A, 15, 26, 83N and 85N.

The Amalienborg Palace Complex in Copenhagen welcomes guests at different times depending on the time of year:

• January 1 - from 11-00 to 19-00;
• from January 2 to April 30 and from November 1 to December 22 - daily except Monday from 11-00 to 16-00;
• from February 10 to 25 and from March 24 to April 2 - every day from 11-00 to 16-00;
• from May 1 to June 15 and from September 16 to the end of October - daily from 10-00 to 16-00;
• from June 16 to September 15 - daily from 10-00 to 17-00;
• from December 23 to December 25, the palace complex is closed;
• December 31 - from 11-00 to 15-00.

It is important! Ticket offices close 20 minutes before the end of the palace complex.

• adult - 95 kroons;
• Student - 65 CZK;
• Admission is free for children under 17 years old.

Prices on the page are for May 2018.

Good to know! You can book a ticket by phone or online. The reservation is confirmed when a ticket arrives at the indicated email address.

The castle provides facilities for tourists with disabilities. There are also lockers for storing personal items.

The Royal Palace in Copenhagen is a visiting card of the capital. Despite a certain asceticism and northern simplicity, the attraction is of genuine interest, because this is a rare opportunity to visit the royal chambers and get acquainted with the life of the monarchs.

Watch the video: Tour into Danish royal palace Amalienborg (November 2024).