Frederiksborg Castle and Gardens: Hillerød’s Renaissance Treasure

Denmark’s most spectacular Renaissance castle, Frederiksborg, was once a pleasure palace where Danish kings entertained royal guests.

On this walking tour around the castle’s courtyards and baroque gardens, you’ll hear stories of Swedish raiders, stuffed horses, and beer-funded reconstructions that bring its dramatic past to life. Starting in front of the medieval castle bridge, you’ll wander past the castle’s outer and inner courtyards before ascending through the gardens’ four terraces.

Along the way, Danish historian, Anders, will tell you how Frederiksborg was built by the ambitious King Christian IV in the 1620s as a Renaissance retreat from Copenhagen’s crowded streets. He’ll also share details about the castle’s multiple historical layers, from stables to baroque terraces designed with clever optical illusions. The tour ends beside Slotssøen lake.

On this tour, you’ll have the chance to:

• Find out how the gardens were inspired by Versailles, and hear about the annual replanting of 12,000 tulips in intricate geometric patterns
• Cross the unusual S-shaped bridge and discover the legend of the horse that died after a record ride from Copenhagen
• Admire Neptune fountain where Christian IV depicted himself as the Greek god
• Discover why Swedish soldiers stole the fountain during Denmark’s long history of conflicts with its neighbor
• Visit the former royal kitchen gardens where butterbur plants, descendants of 17th-century medicinal herbs, still grow today
• Explore the Renaissance church with its original organ, one of the few structures to survive the devastating 1859 fire

This tour takes approximately 30 minutes without stopping. While there are some uphill sections in the gardens, the return journey is entirely downhill, making this tour accessible for most visitors.