One day; Two Castles

Kronborg Castle

'Hamlet's Castle,' complete with eerie hallways of stone and deep, murky moat.

Saturdays have become synonymous with family outings  --sometimes these are forced family fun and other times these are actually fun. We hustle through chores and homework, pack a lunch, cram into our little European car, and hit the road with a smart phone for directions and historical information in hand. This particular Saturday we were on a castle quest. 

We first went to Helsingor, a small city along the northern shore of Zealand (which is the island Copenhagen is on). Helsingor sits on the sound that links the North Sea with the Baltic and is a 30 minute ferry ride to Sweden...we saved that adventure for another day. The town was the center of international shipping during the 1400s and taxes were collected at the Kronborg Castle from every ship passing by. Some years later, Shakespeare used this castle as the setting for "Hamlet." It has since come to be known as 'Hamlet's Castle.'  

Making good use of the artifacts

Our next stop was the city of Hillerod to visit the Frederiksborg Castle. This is considered to be Scandinavia's greatest renaissance castle. It was built early in the 17th century. It was originally built and used as a royal residence but today is a national history museum. It is filled with period furnishings, has some very impressive architecture, and also houses Danish artwork and sculptures. For me, the most memorable and impressive room in the castle is that which displays the original paintings by Carl Bloch. Carl Bloch was a Danish painter born in Copenhagen in 1834. He was commissioned to paint 23 paintings depicting the life of Christ for the chapel at the Frederiksborg Castle. The originals are still there and are truly beautiful.

Think this 7 year old American will remember standing in front of this 17th century castle?
I think the Minecraft shirt keeps it real for all of us.  :)

Wish I could better show the intricate detail
on this clock tower of the castle.

The entrance into the courtyard of the
Frederiksborg Slot (castle).

Grant takes his site-seeing very seriously.

Inside of the chapel within the castle.

Look familiar? This painting is by Carl Bloch. Do a quick
google search...it's worth seeing his other works.

The grounds surrounding the castle are beautiful and as intricate as the castle itself!

Our castle day was a fun one. In fact, it was worth a repeat. I most enjoyed the Frederiksborg Slot and would definitely add it to my personal 'Top Ten' list for greater Copenhagen.