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.