There is no better day to visit some of the most magnificent Danish castles than on a cloudy, rainy day. This was the case during my recent visit to the imposing Frederiksbørg Slot in Hillerød and the mysterious Krombørg Slot of Hamlet fame in Helsingør. Both these properties are simply incredible, but they do evoke different feelings from the visitor, specially on a rainy day. Where Frederiksbørg Slot and its beautiful gardens evoke romantic notions of gold-plated chariots and majestic ball dances in a glorious setting, the mere sight of Krombørg Slot and its imposingly fortified walls will make the hair on the back of your neck stand while your senses immediately go on high alert as if you were about to storm the fortress during its glory days. These castles could not be more different, or more magnificent. What a difference a century or so makes.
As you walk up the cobblestone road that leads to the fountain courtyard at Frederiksbørg Slot, this Dutch Renaissance gem from the 17th Century immediately begins to take your breath away. Its imposing architecture and magnificent fountain at the main courtyard will make you think that you have just wandered into a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. But if you only stick to the castle while there, you will miss out on the sumptuous Baroque gardens with sections edged into royal monograms and the scenic walk around the moat surrounding the castle. This place is simply a photographer’s dream. But so is the dark and dramatic Krombørg Slot, which stands guard at the entrance of the Øresund while staring at Sweden right in the eye. Adding to the charisma of this castle is the story that Ogier the Dane sits there in a pronounced slumber until the day that Denmark is in great danger, at which time Ogier will come out of his prolonged slumber to save the nation. Let’s just hope that he will never have to do this.
