Amalienborg: Historic Residence of Danish Royalty

Larger than life: Architecture through the ages

Located in the heart of Copenhagen, between the city and the harbor, the Amalienborg complex is a masterpiece of Danish architecture. The complex consists of four colorful palaces and a marble church arranged in an octagonal courtyard, allegedly inspired by the Place de la Concorde in Paris. A majestic equestrian statue of King Frederick V, the founder of Amalienborg, stands proudly in the middle of the square and is considered one of the finest equestrian statues in the world. Arcady/Shutterstock

An official residence of the Danish royalty since the 18th century, the vast Amalienborg complex in Copenhagen offers an insight into the rich history and lifestyle of the Danish royal family.

Originally, the Amalienborg complex housed four noble families in the four identical rococo-style palaces facing each other around an octagonal square. It was designed by renowned Danish architect Nicolai Eigtved and commissioned by King Frederick V in 1750. When Christiansborg Palace, which had housed the royal family for 50 years, burned down, King Christian VII purchased one of the four palaces to use for his residence, and other members of the family eventually bought the other palaces.

Today, Amalienborg still serves as a royal residence and is considered one of the largest and best examples of Danish rococo architecture, although there’s little left of the remaining rococo interior.

Each palace is named after the heirs of King Frederick V: Christian VII, Christian VIII, grandson-in-law Christian IX, and Frederick VIII, the son of Christian IX. Three of the buildings are still used as residences by the Danish royal family, but the palace of Christian VIII now contains a museum, known as the Amalienborg Museum.

The Amalienborg Museum gives a behind-the-scenes view of one of the oldest monarchies in Europe. Its rich and varied interiors reflect the different styles in Denmark throughout the years, as well as the individual tastes of Danish kings and queens. The rooms date back 150 years to Christian IX and Queen Louise, known as the “in-laws of Europe,” as their four children ascended to the thrones of England, Greece, Russia, and Denmark.

Many of the rooms have specific themes, such as a military décor in rooms that housed Frederick VIII’s military academy; the Victorian style characterized by abundant eclecticism; and a knightly theme, with a medieval style of dark wood tones and stone wallpaper or walls. Some of the highlights include Christian X’s study, Queen Louise’s salon, the Blue Cabinet, the Garden Room, the Gala Hall, and the Fabergé Chamber.

Although some rooms in the complex are still used for state affairs, most are set aside as museum settings to give visitors a glimpse into royal life, past and present.

The majestic rococo façade of Christian VIII’s Palace, also known as Levetzau's Palace. Part of the palace is still used as a residence for the royal family, but the building also hosts both private and public reception rooms, as well as the Amalienborg Museum, open to visitors. The elegant stone façade forms a typical light rococo exterior, with German and French stylistic elements. Similar to traditional rococo exteriors, the façade is simple and only has light ornaments and delicate carvings surrounding the French windows, topped by some statues.Anton_Ivanov/Shutterstock

Queen Louise’s salon is located on the piano nobile, the first floor of the palace. This room is furnished in the Victorian style, with a mix of expensive and cheaper objects typical of the style. Portraits of the Danish royal family hang behind the pink silk sofa and armchairs; the most famous of them is a portrait of the queen’s daughter Princess Thyra painted in 1857 by August Schiott. The chandelier, made at the German Royal Porcelain Factory, was a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1892. Kit Leong/Shutterstock

Frederick VIII’s study is in Christian VIII’s palace. Furnished toward the end of the 1860s, it's in the Renaissance Revival style, characterized by a 19th-century interior with dark wood furniture, tapestries, carved panels, and coffered ceilings. The heavy furniture along with the golden leather walls is also a great example of a masculine interior design of the time. The tapestry features imitation gilt leather, made from paper rather than leather with the help of machines in a practice popular during the 1850s. Dr. Victor Yong/Shutterstock

Furnished in 1852 for Queen Caroline Amalie and considered to be the only neo-Gothic room in Denmark, the Gothic Library holds about 1,600 books. In this library, the queen received some of the most prominent intellectual figures of the 19th century. Lenush/Shutterstock

The elegant dining room dates from the time of Christian X and Queen Alexandrine, who lived in the palace from 1899 to 1947 and in 1952. Most of the furnishings, including the dining table and chairs, the cabinet, the chandelier, and the golden walls, are unchanged. The decorative plates on the wall were wedding presents for the royal couple and represent motifs from the town of Randers, Denmark. Dr. Victor Yong/Shutterstock

One of the largest and most beautiful rooms of the palace is the Gala Hall, a masterpiece of the neoclassical style (a revival of classical Greek and Roman architecture). The walls and carved coffered ceiling are painted in yellow and blue. Along the walls, painted gold columns frame two statues of the Muses in Greek mythology by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen. The statues are topped by dance friezes, highlighting the festive purpose of this room. Lenush/Shutterstock

Would you like to see other kinds of arts and culture articles? Please email us your story ideas or feedback at [email protected]