Marselisborg Palace: A Royal Refuge

Marselisborg Palace is a royal retreat in Jutland, built as a public gift and designed by Hack Kampmann. The palace is filled with exquisite details and is beautifully set back with views of the sea and forest in a charming, English-inspired palace park.

Originally called the “Prince’s Residence in Jutland” – and for good reason ¬– Marselisborg Palace was intended to bring the royal family closer to Jutland, where they had not had residences for centuries. The palace boasts a stunning location with unobstructed views of the sea and forest, while also being secluded for privacy. It is surrounded by a beautiful English-style garden with small ponds, a rose garden, an herb garden, and numerous artworks.

Marselisborg Palace was built as a gift from the people, funded by voluntary contributions, and constructed on land donated by the City of Aarhus. Additionally, several Danish cities and businesses were involved in furnishing the palace.

Papercut of Details

Marselisborg Palace was designed by Royal Building Inspector Hack Kampmann. In close collaboration with Crown Prince Christian, he created a Neo-Baroque building with two stories above a high basement. The palace’s white, richly detailed walls resemble a three-dimensional papercut, contrasting sharply with the black-glazed tile roof with copper details.

The facade facing the garden is symmetrical and features a prominent triangular gable, while the courtyard side with the entrance on the west has two narrow stair towers with slender onion domes, similar to those on the Customs House in Aarhus, Kampmann’s first work in the city.

In the triangular gable facing the garden, the Danish coat of arms with three lions is displayed, while the main entrance bears the monogram of Christian X and Alexandrine. The frieze below the main cornice shows the couple’s initials, and maritime motifs are found above the windows. Many of these decorative elements were created by artist K. Hansen Reistrup.

The overall impression reflects the national pride prevalent in the early 20th century. It also represents one of Kampmann’s signature traits: conceptual thinking and attention to detail, with the architect designing and custom-making almost every feature, down to the smallest fittings and door handles.

From Gereration to Gereration

The residence was completed on June 7, 1902, and was then gifted to Christian X and his wife, Alexandrine. Shortly after taking possession, the prince proposed leasing the land in front of the palace down to the bay to prevent any construction that might ruin the view. Just a few days later, the city council approved an agreement for the prince to lease the area for a ten-year period, and later Mindeparken was established here.

The Palace Park and Visiting Hours

After Queen Alexandrine’s death in 1952, King Frederik IX took over the palace and oversaw the construction of the guardhouse at the entrance to the palace grounds. In 1968, Frederik IX passed the palace on to his successor, Margrethe, while the palace was modernized with funds from another public gift given the year before.

In 1974, approximately 500 old rose varieties were planted in the palace park, beautifying the grounds along with various sculptures—a collection that has grown significantly over the years. The palace park was opened to the public that same year during periods when the royal family is not residing at the palace. When the royal family is at Marselisborg Palace, the park is closed to the public, and access is only possible up to the Rose Gate, marking the entrance to the palace. The gate is guarded by the Royal Life Guards, and while the royal family is present, you can witness the daily changing of the guard at 12:00 noon.