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Rosenborg Slot
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Rosenborg Slot

• 3 minutes reading time

Rosenborg Castle was constructed as a smaller summer residence for King Christian IV in 1606. However, it was quickly upgraded on several occasions, and the current palace dates back to 1633. King Christian IV had a deep affection for Rosenborg. It was his cherished possession to such an extent that on his deathbed, he requested to be transported by sled to Rosenborg so he could spend his final days there. Rosenborg Castle is built in the Dutch Renaissance style and is open for visits as a museum, where one can explore numerous historical interiors and royal artifacts. In the basement, visitors can view the crown jewels.

The Ingenious Trappings of Rosenborg

Rosenborg Castle is a true Renaissance castle, complete with all the ingenious trappings that it implies. The palace boasts a mirror room, which was all the rage at that time. The winter room has built-in tubes connecting to the cellar vault, allowing music to be played in the vault that could be heard in the room – the Renaissance’s equivalent of loudspeakers. In the dark room, there is an armchair that restrains the guest and pours water down their back. When the guest is released and stands up, a hidden trumpet in the seat toots. All these devices were created for the purpose of playing with the senses and altering one’s perception of reality.

Crap and Carps

When King Christian IV had Rosenborg Castle built, a moat surrounding the entire palace was also constructed. This was, in fact, something that would typically be done for defensive purposes, but it was hardly the king’s intention to defend himself against Copenhageners and his own orchards in Kongens Have. No, the moat was, on the contrary, modern and practical. The toilet drains led to the moat! Christian IV had put carps in the moat water – carps whose great-great-grandchildren still live on to this very day. Christian IV also had a mechanical arrangement for raising and lowering the drawbridge from his private chambers. This falls in perfect line with quite a substantial ego.

The Crown Jewels

In the basement, you can view the crown jewels, a collection of jewels and crowns belonging to the Crown. The collection of crown jewels began in the 1700s and has since been supplemented. Only the Queen is permitted to wear these jewels, and only within the borders of Denmark. Also on display are the crowns, including Christian IV’s crown. It’s an open crown with points, weighing nearly 3 kilos. Christian IV was a prolific builder and a warmonger, so when his son, Frederick III, needed the crown for his own coronation, it was pawned with a banker in Hamburg.

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