Christiansborg Palace

The most important building of Danish democracy has risen from the ashes like a phoenix again and again.

The Christiansborg Palace standing today was completed in 1928 and this makes it one of the youngest palaces in Denmark. But it’s probably also the palace with the deepest foundations, both literally and metaphorically. The ground on which it stands has been home to the center of power in Denmark for 870 years, and the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) still stands there today. The palace also bears traces of its four predecessors that have succeeded each other, one after the other, since Copenhagen’s founder, Bishop Absalon, built his stronghold there in the 1100s. Later, as the monarch gained more power, a castle was needed. The first castle had to be demolished because the tower was so heavy it was in danger of collapsing. The next castle burned to the ground. As did the one after that.

On the Shoulders of the Past

But something was preserved from each iteration and each era. In the basement, you can see the ruins of Absalon’s ring wall and the very first castle built on the grounds: Copenhagen Castle. You can also see the Rococo Court Theater and horse stables from the 18th century, both of which survived the two fires. Architect C.F. Hansen reused some of the old outer walls when he built a new castle in the Classicist style in the 1800s. But the highly flammable structures were also consumed by fire over a century later. All that remained was the palace church and parts of the outer wall. Today, both elements are still part of the current Christiansborg Palace, which many Copenhageners probably feel has always been there.

Heavy as the Might of Power

The monarch no longer had absolute power over Danish architecture when it came time to decide who would rebuild the palace in the early 1900s. There were many conflicting factions among both architects and the public when an architectural competition was held to design the country’s new center of power. Amidst much debate, the choice landed on the Neo-Baroque proposal from architect Thorvald Jørgensen – a heavy building in granite rather than brick, which contemporary romanticists usually swore by. Many felt that power became rather more entrenched if granite were used. Along the ground and basement floors, however, there are clear physical signs that the interests of the whole country now played a role in the new building: A wide variety of stones were used, all collected from the 700 parishes across Denmark.

Half of Denmark’s History Carved in Granite

Above most windows on the ground floor, you’ll see the faces of Tycho Brahe, Grundtvig, Adam Oehlenschlæger, Absalon, Tordenskjold and several other important men from Danish history. They were created by sculptor Anders Bundgaard, when women had only had the right to vote for a few years. The castle has three wings and two gates: the King’s Gate and the Queen’s Gate. Both gates provide access to the palace square and Prince Jørgen’s Courtyard behind the heavy facades of the palace. The Royal House and Danish Parliament have their own wings, and room after room is filled with artwork, wallpapers, stucco, tapestries, fixtures, wood carvings, furniture, floor coverings, chandeliers, paintings and much more. Some artifacts stem from the previous castle, others have been brought in from other palaces across Denmark, and some are gifts that have been presented over the years. The largest room is the Great Hall, which is 40 meters long with a ceiling height of 10 meters. The Great Hall is often used for royal evening events and gala dinners during state visits.

Secret Storage Room in the Tower

Whereas the Danish Parliament and the many halls, the ruins below and the squares around Christiansborg have been accessible to the public for many years, the interior of the castle’s landmark, the tower, is a different story. Christiansborg tower is the tallest tower in Copenhagen, rising a total of 106 meters above the city. The roof was originally made of tiles and was only topped by a single crown, rather than the present three, because money was tight as construction came to an end between the two World Wars in 1928. The Danish puiblic were not pleased. The tiles were eventually replaced with copper after a nationwide collection. A few years later, the last two crowns were added because the Minister of the Interior at the time noted that the tower looked more like a small-town railway station without them.

During a major renovation in the 2000s, architects found an old storage room on the top floor of the tower, filled with old models of the building. The room has now been restored and transformed into a restaurant with a view no one should miss.

Near Christianborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace is located at the heart of Copenhagen’s Cultural District, which is home to the city’s most important cultural institutions. From the palace, you can easily access the Court Theatre which survived the fire in the 1700s. The Court Theatre is located through the gate by the old riding ring, and currently houses a theater museum. The National Museum of Denmark and Thorvaldsen’s Museum are also close by.

You can also walk onto the square in front of Christiansborg Palace, which is surrounded by 85 granite balls, each weighing approximately 1.7 tons. From there you can walk to C.F. Hansen’s palace church built in the early 1800s. In the opposite direction, you’ll find the ruins of Christian IV’s renaissance building Børsen (stock exchange), which tragically burned down in the spring of 2024 after surviving repeated fires throughout Copenhagen’s history.