Kronborg Castle dominates the entrance of Oresund, the sound between Sweden and Denmark in northeastern Denmark, and is a masterpiece of Dutch Renaissance architecture. The castle is a four-wing complex, crowned by towers and pointed spires. (anderm/Shutterstock)
Strategically located on the Oresund, the strait separating Sweden and Denmark, Kronborg Castle is also the setting of great literature. Once a medieval fortress that controlled egress into the Baltic Sea, and the former residence of Denmark’s royalty, Kronborg Castle was immortalized through Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” as Elsinore. But how did this come about?
In 1420, King Eric of Pomerania built Krogen, an impenetrable medieval fortress in the coastal city of Helsingor, to watch Danish waters and to enforce his new tax, the Sound Dues. For more than 400 years, all merchant ships passing through the strait had to pay this toll or be subject to the castle’s bastions and cannon batteries.
Between 1574 and 1585, King Frederick II of Denmark later commissioned a Renaissance castle, Kronborg, to replace the medieval fortress with money from the Sound Dues. The structure had a façade adorned with sandstone ornaments, tall steeples, pointed spires, and gold towers.
Court life was also memorable, with its extravagant parties, opulent dinners, and theater performances. Tales of the magnificent castle and Frederick II’s court eventually reached William Shakespeare, who, inspired by this, chose Kronborg Castle as the setting for his play “Hamlet.”
In 1629, a fire ravaged the castle, leaving only the chapel intact. King Christian IV rebuilt the castle, adding Baroque touches; however, after 1690, it was no longer a royal residence but was used for military purposes instead. Kronborg Castle has since been restored to its former splendor and remains an important symbol of Danish history and English literature.
Known as Elsinore Castle from Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Kronborg Castle has traces of the original architecture within the castle’s immense fortifications. Brick walls and a moat surround the white sandstone structure with irregular window axes and topped by Baroque green-copper spires. (Andrey Shcherbukhin/Shutterstock)
The castle’s courtyard is representative of Dutch Renaissance architecture, a more elaborate and detailed style than the Italian Renaissance. With its tall walls, plaster decorations, symmetrical windows, and copper roof, the courtyard is far from what the original structure looked like. Originally, the façade featured red bricks, which were replaced by limestone during the reign of Frederick II, as limestone was considered the best architectural material at the time. More Renaissance details were added, such as the corner tower and the gable façade displaying classical sculptures to celebrate Frederick’s reign. (trabantos/Shutterstock)
The palace chapel is the only major room that survived the 1629 fire. Located on the ground floor of the south wing, the chapel features a wooden gilded altar and carvings and painted wall panels, as well as side aisles and elegant Tuscan columns supporting the main vault. Consecrated in 1582, the chapel is still in use today. (Diego Grandi/Shutterstock)
One of the highlights of the castle interior, the ballroom was the first of its kind, as it was considered the largest hall in Northern Europe in the 1500s. Originally, this room featured more than 40 tapestries depicting more than 100 Danish kings and was a famous setting for Frederick II’s parties. Shakespeare extensively described this ballroom and its extravagant festivities in “Hamlet,” which is performed every summer in this exact room. Although the room lost its original wall tapestries and other features in the 1629 fire, it was reconstructed in its imposing dimensions by Christian IV. The present floor, wooden ceiling, and wall paintings date back to the castle’s renovations in the 20th century. (Diego Grandi/Shutterstock)
The King’s Chamber, located in the royal apartments, is on the first floor of Kronborg Castle. Originally furnished by Frederick II around 1576, the apartments were redecorated after the 1629 fire. This room features wooden floorboards, wall tapestries, and Dutch furniture from the 17th century. (Diego Grandi/Shutterstock)
The Tapestry Room features a checkered floor, Dutch furniture, and woven wall tapestries depicting Danish kings and the history of Denmark. Only 15 of the tapestries survived the castle fire, seven of which are exhibited in this room. During court festivities, guests and actors could admire these tapestries and retell the stories of mythical Danish kings to their peers back home. One of these tales featured Prince Amleth, which laid the foundation for the eponymous hero of Shakespeare's "Hamlet." (Diego Grandi/Shutterstock)
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