Rosenborg Castle and King's Garden Dazzle Visitors Royally in Copenhagen

Rosenborg Castle, Danish Crown Jewels and the King's Garden Dazzle in Copenhagen

Danish Crown Jewels, King's Garden and Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen infused a bit of the royal life into our adventure in Denmark. We visited several castles on our trip but Rosenborg stood out as a whole package including a castle full of priceless historic treasures, a stately garden and, of course, the Danish Crown Jewels. We were easily swept away.

Stately walk through the King's Garden

Strolling Through the King's Garden:

We began our morning sauntering through the King's Garden which is a popular spot for Danes to relax enjoying the beauty. King's Garden incorporates several sections with different displays. We visited King's Garden on a second afternoon just to sit and absorb the scenes.

Brilliant blooms and sculpted hedges captivate.

Royal Adventure at Rosenborg Slot:

Rosenborg Slot rises in front of you in regal fashion. The palace was constructed by Christian IV in 1606 originally as a summer haven. Rosenborg would undergo several expansions until 1633 and served as a royal residence until 1710. After, Rosenborg became the place where kings stored their unique treasures.

In awe in front of Rosenborg Castle.

Dazzled by the Royal Interior:

Rosenborg's well preserved interior wows at every turn. After visiting the Halim Time and Glass Museum here in Evanston, IL, we have been fascinated by intricate clocks featuring astronomy, music and even entertainment. Rosenborg is not short on clocks! In fact, we delighted in an incredible astronomical clock crafted by Swiss watchmaker Isaac Hebrecht in 1594 in one of the first rooms of the tour. Look at the movable pieces! I love how the clock is situated in the room with rich paintings on either side.

Isaac Hebrecht Astronomical Clock

In Christian IV's Bedchamber, we viewed clothing bloodied during a naval battle with Sweden in 1644.

Christian IV's clothes bloodied during a naval battle.

In Christian V's Chamber, we marveled at the ornate decor. The portrait of King Christian V and Queen Charlotte hang in the chamber.

Ornate chamber impresses.

Before heading up to the first floor, we took a peek at the genealogical chart of Christian IV.

Genealogical chart of King Christian IV.

More Royal Treasures Upstairs:

Upstairs, we were immediately greeted by quite the curiosity.  A lavish and large walnut cupboard houses a mechanical orchestra that works after restoration! We were able to witness the orchestra in all its glory! When the music and movement began, everyone in the room stopped in delight. Really a piece not to miss when in Rosenborg!

Lavish walnut cupboard orchestra! Such a delight!

Christian VI's  room exhibits quite a bit of opulence but I think it is tasteful at the same time. The tapestries were woven in 1684 and depict scenes from the life of Alexander the Great.  While Rosenborg certainly is opulent, overall I found it to be awe inducing and not over the top.

Incredible tapestries and ornate elements.

The Amber Chandelier

In Denmark, amber is known as the "Gold of the North" or "Denmark's Gold" and can be found if you are lucky on the west coast of Jutland. The rare Amber Chandelier Tin Frederik V's cabinet is reminiscent of the importance of amber to the Danes. The intricate tapestries were woven in Berlin and depict garden scenes.

A rare Amber Chandelier dazzles.

Additional Relics:

Christian VIII was the last absolute monarch of Denmark. Among the many interesting clocks we discovered throughout Rosenborg, we observed one depicting Christian VIII indicating his love of art through the presence of papers and books.

Mantle clock depicting Christian VIII the last absolute monarch of Denmark.

Another interesting collection of artifacts features the pen that Frederick VII used to sign the democratic constitution.

Take a peek at the pen Frederick VII used to sign Denmark's democratic constitution.

Pomp and Circumstance in the Great Hall:

When in a castle, you just have to view the throne! We climbed up to the second floor and entered the glorious expanse of the great all. Here we discovered the coronation chair for the king from 1671-1840 crafted from narwhal tusks. Next to it is the coronation chair for the Queen made from silver for Queen Sophie Magdalene in 1731.

Stunning coronation thrones.

Also in the hall, we viewed the Throne of Audience made in 1740 for King Christian IV.

Danish Crown Jewels

Next, we ventured to the basement where you can find the treasury. The treasury includes more than the crown jewels including colt revolvers given by President Lincoln to King Frederick VII.

Other items include swords, jewels, Rosenborg wine and more. For me, the dazzlers were the crowns including King Christian IV's crown crafted in 1595:

The crown of King Christian IV.

I was just as wowed by King Christian V's crown made in 1670-1671 and the Queen's crown made for Queen Sophie Magdalene in 1731. Such a magical moment!

Wow! Wow! Wow! History and treasures brought royalty to us at Rosenborg Castle. I am still amazed by the authentic royal artifacts that Rosenborg presents and how much history lives there. Our tour of Rosenborg Castle was certainly unforgettable.

Tips on Touring Rosenborg Castle:

• Do not plan on rushing through. Rosenborg holds an incredible wealth of artifacts.
• Do use the self tour guide brochure to help navigate.
• Do take advantage of QR codes for additional information.
• Plan to explore the gardens as well as the castle.
• If you are exploring multiple attractions, consider the Copenhagen Card which we found was worthwhile for our visit.
• Alternatively, Rosenborg is part of a museum pass you may want to consider.
• Rosenborg's hours vary based on season.
• The castle also has a cafe and gift shop.
• Guided tours are available.

**Disclosure: No compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.