Christiansborg palace

Christiansborg Palace

» Year built: 1928

» Time to build: 21 years

» Style: Baroque, Neoclassiciam, Neo-Baroque

» Location: Island of Slotsholmen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Standing on the island of Slotsholmen, Christiansborg Palace is quite literally in the heart of Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. Surrounded by winding canals, it has become the centre of power for both the royal family and the government. The Danish parliament, the Danish prime minister and the Supreme Court of Denmark all operate within the palace, making it the only building in the world to contain all three branches of government.

Although the Danish monarchy now live in Amalienborg Palace, less than two kilometres away, they frequently use the luxurious royal reception rooms at Christiansborg for functions such as state visits, gala dinners and ballroom dances. Exquisitely gilded throughout and adorned with colourful silks and tapestries, the palace lends itself to the glitz and glamour that is associated with royal events. Stepping inside, it is possible to imagine all of those that have enjoyed its pleasures throughout its history.

The building is the result of 800 years of work, as successive castles and palaces have been destroyed and demolished since the 14th century. Originally in the hands of the Church, it was caught in a conflict between the Church and the crown before the latter seized it in the 15th century. As a result, the palace has a fascinating history and sits on top of the ruins of both Absalon’s and Copenhagen Castles that existed before it.

Destroyed by two devastating fires in the 18th and 19th centuries, the palace boasts three different architectural styles for visitors to admire. The showgrounds are the only area of the complex that survived both the fires of 1794 and 1884 and therefore remain in a grand Baroque style. The chapel, which survived the second fire, is designed in a neo-Classical style, while the majority of the palace, rebuilt in the 20th century, displays the delights of neo-Baroque architecture. It is the perfect place for those who want to feel a connection to the past and its culmination with the present.

The royal kitchen

Explore where the food was made for the delectable Danish banquets

Recently restored through a major refurbishment in 2016, visitors can now gain exclusive access to the royal kitchen and witness the behind-the-scenes action for the preparations of the palace’s lavish and decadent banquets.

Authentically restored to how it would have been during the reign of King Christian X in the early to mid-1900s, the kitchen possesses one of the largest collections of copperware in Europe. Visitors are given the chance to step back in time as they watch the pots and pans sizzle in a re-creation of the preparations for the gala dinner