Frederiksborg Castle

Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød was built by King Christian IV in the early seventeenth century and rises from three small islands in a castle lake. With its spires, sandstone details and copper roofs, it is the largest Renaissance palace in Scandinavia.

Today it houses the Museum of National History, with portraits and furnished rooms spanning five centuries of Danish history. The ornate chapel, where Danish kings were once anointed, is a highlight, and the Baroque garden looks back across the lake to the palace.

Hillerød is about 40 minutes from Copenhagen by train or car, and Frederiksborg is often combined with Kronborg Castle in a single day. A walk around the castle lake gives the best views of the palace from every side.