Rosenborg Castle

While Erin and I were visiting Copenhagen, we toured Rosenborg Castle and stepped directly into Denmark’s royal history.

The castle was built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV, one of Denmark’s most ambitious monarchs. Originally constructed as a summer residence in 1606 and later expanded into the Dutch Renaissance-style castle that stands today. Rosenborg was intended to reflect both royal power and refinement. Christian IV left his architectural mark all over Copenhagen, but Rosenborg remains one of the most personal projects.

Walking through the rooms, we could feel the centuries layered into the walls. The ceilings are richly ornamented and the furnishings elaborate, The Knights’ Hall had coronation thrones guarded by three life-sized silver lions. It was here that absolute monarchs were crowned, surrounded by ceremony.

Beneath the castle lies the Treasury, where the Danish crown jewels are displayed. These were the very objects used in coronations

By the early 1700s, Rosenborg ceased being used as a royal residence and in 1838, it opened to the public as a museum, making it one of the earliest royal castles in the world to serve that purpose.  

Erin and I moved from room to room, absorbing the jewels and the stories and into these grand spaces. What lingers are the shared moments.