Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Kronborg Castle

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Kronborg Castle

Kronborg castle, Helsingør, Denmark. Picture by Pudelek Wikimedia

Kronborg Castle is a fortress in Copenhagen, on the sea. It was built by King Christian III to protect Copenhagen from some of the many wars that ravaged Europe during the 1500s.

The castle was built in the early 1400s by the Danish king, Erik of Pomerania. Its story revolves around a fortress, Krogen.

The king wanted all the ships entering or leaving the Baltic Sea to pay all their dues. For this, he built a powerful fortress. Helsingborg Castle existed on the Eastern Shore of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Here are some Fascinating facts about Kronborg Castle;

1. Kronborg is open to the public

Today, restored to its original glory as it would have looked in the 16th and 17th centuries, Kronborg Slot is now open to the public.

Inside its opulent walls, visitors can view its incredibly long 16th-century Great Hall as well as the statue of an exhibition about Viking chief Holger Dansk.

The castle also houses a Maritime Museum and free guided tours are available in both Danish and English: for the Casemates, these take place at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm and for the Royal Apartments, 11:30 am and 1:30 pm.

Occasionally, actors placed throughout Kronborg Slot also bring Shakespeare’s play to life in the dimly lit fortress.

2. Kronborg Castle was built as a strong symbol of wealth and power

Between 1574 and 1585, Frederik II built the sumptuous renaissance castle, Kronborg Castle, as a strong symbol of wealth and power.

The Sound dues financed the towers and steeples, copper roofs, and sandstone ornaments.

During the great period of Kronborg Castle in the late 16th century, sailors, businessmen, diplomats, and aristocrats spoke of the magnificent castle and court in Elsinore with its pomp and splendor.

3.  The statute of Holger is situated in Kronborg  Castle

According to a legend linked to Arthurian myth, a Danish king known as Holger the Dane was taken to Avalon by Morgan le Fay.

He returned to rescue France from danger, then traveled to Kronborg castle, where he sleeps until he is needed to save his homeland. His beard has grown to extend along the ground. A statue of the sleeping Holger has been placed in the castle.

In the Danish tongue, he is called Holger Danske.

4. Shakespeare once used the Kronborg Castle

William Shakespeare, Picture courtesy of John Taylor Wikimedia

Shakespeare used Kronborg when he wrote his immortal play about the king’s son Hamlet and today, in the rest of the world, the castle is better known as Hamlet’s Castle.

No one knows for sure whether Shakespeare ever visited Kronborg Castle, but he certainly heard the rumors of the decadent lifestyle of the court. It was documented that British players visited Kronborg several times during Shakespeare’s time.

These days, a Shakespeare Festival takes place at Kronborg Castle every August with open-air theatre and the castle as a backdrop.

5. Kronborg Castle is a UNESCO World Heritage

Kronborg Castle, a UNESCO Heritage Site. By Richard Mortel Wikimedia

UNESCO inscribes monuments, buildings, cultural landscapes, and natural areas as a world heritage when they hold an exceptional value to humanity and need to be protected.

Kronborg Castle entered UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2000. Several other Danish attractions are registered at UNESCO’s World Heritage, eg the Par Force Hunting Landscape in North Zealand.

6. The Castle was originally built by King Eric VII

The castle’s story dates back to a stronghold, Krogen, built by  King Eric VII in the 1420s. Along with the fortress  Karnan Helsingborg on the opposite coast of Øresund, it controlled the entranceway to the Baltic Sea.

From 1574 to 1585 King Frederick II had the medieval fortress radically transformed into a magnificent Renaissance castle.

The main architects were the Flemings Hans Hendrik van Paesschen and Anthonis van Obbergen, whereas the sculptural work was coordinated by Gert van Groningen. 

7. Kronborg was once used as a prison

Queen Caroline Mathilde was imprisoned in Kronborg Castle. By Jens Juel. Wikimedia

From 1739 until the 1900s, Kronborg was used as a prison. The inmates were guarded by the soldiers billeted in the castle.

The convicts had been sentenced to work on the castle’s fortifications. The convicts were divided into two categories: those with minor sentences were categorized as “honest” and were allowed to work outside the castle walls.

Those serving sentences for violence, murder, arson, or the like were categorized as “dishonest” and had to serve the full sentence doing hard physical labor inside the castle ramparts.

Otherwise, they served their time under the same conditions: they all had to wear chains and spend nights in cold and damp dungeons.

8. The Castle is one of the largest tourist attraction sites

At the tip of the promontory stands Kronborg Castle and gaze out towards the other side of the strait.

A historic castle that played a major role in the defense during the war against Sweden. Nowadays it’s much quieter, and you can stroll around and check out the old palace area.

If you want to enter the castle, there are guided tours available. Kronborg Castle is undoubtedly one of Elsinore’s best tourist attractions.

9. The Castle was conquered by the Swedish Army

During the Dano-Swedish War of 1658-60, Kronborg was besieged, attacked and conquered by a Swedish army, commanded by Carl Gustaf Wrangel.

As a result of the Swedish occupation, Kronborg was deprived of many of its most precious artworks, including the richly decorated fountain in the castle courtyard, Frederick II’s canopy, and a number of the large ceiling paintings commissioned by Christian IV for the ballroom.

10. Kronborg Slot was rebuilt by Christian IV after the destruction

Christian IV of Denmark. Picture By Szilas Wikimedia

Burned down in 1629, Kronborg Slot was rebuilt by Christian IV. However, it was shortly after ravaged by Swedish forces in 1658 who took many valuables as war booty.

The castle served as a royal residence until around 1690 and then as an 18th-century army barracks. The Swedish Army left Kronborg Slot in 1923 after which it was renovated and opened to the public.

The castle is open between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday