Rosenborg Castle: Denmark’s Renaissance Palace

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we learn about a royal castle that is open to the people.

An exterior view of Rosenborg Castle features its symmetric garden. The castle’s red brick façade along with its high towers, turrets, and gables are typical of the Dutch Renaissance style, which inspired later Danish architecture. Purportedly, King Christian IV designed some of Rosenborg Castle, along with architects Bertel Lange and Hans van Steenwinckell, in the early 1600s. Originally, the castle was a small pleasure palace but underwent various expansions until 1633, when it finally became the palace we see today. 111 photo/Shutterstock

In the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, Rosenborg Castle was built as a Renaissance-style pleasure palace. With intricate architectural features and a rich history spanning 400 years, this structure served as the home of the Danish royal family.

Built between 1606 and 1624 by King Christian IV, Rosenborg Castle was one of many impressive palaces he built that are still standing. Rosenborg Castle was King Christian’s personal favorite and served as a venue for many important events.