Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg is the residence of the Danish royal family and also serves as the royal palace. In 1794, during the reign of Christian VII, a fire broke out at Christiansborg Palace, forcing the royal family to take refuge at Amalienborg. Subsequently, King Frederick V decided to rebuild it in the Rococo style, transforming the original four noble mansions into a magnificent palace. To commemorate this king, an equestrian statue of Frederick V was erected in the center of the octagonal square of the palace.
The four historic buildings are: the Christian VII's Palace, built in 1754, now used as the royal reception hall; the Christian VIII's Palace; the Christian IX's Palace, completed in 1758; and the Frederick VIII's Palace, where Queen Ingrid resided.
The Christian VIII's Palace was officially opened to the public in 1994, showcasing items used by the royal family before 1947. When the Danish queen is in residence, the national flag is raised on the roof, indicating her presence in the palace. Who knows, she might be observing the crowd in the square with a telescope.
The royal guard band departs from the palace at 11:30 AM, marches through the old town, and returns to the palace for the changing of the guard ceremony in the square, which takes place punctually. This unique event is very distinctive, so be sure not to miss it.
Rosenborg
Rosenborg Castle (Rosenborg Slot), also known as the Rose Palace, is one of the iconic buildings in Copenhagen. It was specially built in 1634 as a summer residence for King Christian IV. The palace features Dutch Renaissance style design, with bronze eaves and red brick walls as its main characteristics. Before King Frederick IV completed Frederiksborg Castle, three generations of kings resided here.
Since 1883, Rosenborg Castle has become the treasury of successive kings, showcasing many ornaments, luxurious costumes, paintings, and ceramics. Here, you can admire the magnificent marble ceilings, invaluable Dutch tapestries, silver lion statues, and precious pure gold artifacts. Additionally, the Danish crown jewels are also kept in the palace's basement.
Frederik's Church
Frederik's Church is one of the larger domed churches in Denmark. Due to the extensive use of marble from Denmark and Norway, locals affectionately call it the 'Marble Church'.
The Marble Church is located opposite the Royal Palace Square in Copenhagen, facing Amalienborg Palace. Upon entering the church, you will be awestruck by its massive interior dome, which has a diameter of 30 meters and features paintings of the 12 apostles of Jesus. The interior decorations and paintings are solemn and dignified, making you feel small and instinctively hold your breath as you quietly appreciate and experience the eternal, solemn, and sacred beauty of religion.
Today, the church is dedicated to becoming a modern city church and is open to the public daily. Additionally, it is an ideal venue for many newlyweds in Copenhagen to hold their weddings.
Roskilde Cathedral
This renowned cathedral is located in the city center and is the main tourist attraction in the Roskilde area, attracting up to 170,000 visitors annually. The history of the cathedral dates back over 1,000 years, making it a long-standing tradition for Danes to visit. The current cathedral was initiated by Archbishop Absalon, the founder of Copenhagen, in the 1170s, and has since seen the addition of various porches and chapels in different styles. The cathedral is a masterpiece of Danish architectural art spanning 800 years. Since the early 15th century, it has been the preferred burial site for the royal family, with all kings since the Reformation being buried here. Additionally, since the Middle Ages, the cathedral has served as a royal mausoleum, housing the tombs of 39 kings and queens, including King Harold Bluetooth, King Sweyn Estridsen, and Queen Margaret I, many of whom are interred in ornate stone sarcophagi. In 1985, a new royal burial site was constructed in the northwest corner of the cathedral, where the parents of the current Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid, are buried.
