Kronborg Castle
克伦堡宫 · Helsingør, Denmark
A Renaissance castle guarding the narrowest point of the Øresund, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000; the Great Hall, the chapel and the underground casemates are the highlights, and from the castle headland you can see Helsingborg in Sweden, about 4 kilometres away.
Know before you go
- Talking loudly in the chapel
- taking photos in galleries where it is not allowed
- climbing on the walls or the railings of the gun emplacements
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
Legend
The sleeping Holger Danske
Legend has it that the Danish hero Holger Danske sleeps beneath Kronborg and will wake to defend the country whenever Denmark is in danger. The statue in the casemates depicts this legendary guardian.
Source: Wikipedia: Kronborg
History
The stage of Elsinore
Hamlet is set in "Elsinore", but there is no record that Shakespeare ever came here. The play was first performed at the castle in 1816, by soldiers of the garrison, to mark the 200th anniversary of Shakespeare's death; since 1937 Hamlet has been staged in the castle courtyard every year.
Source: Wikipedia: Kronborg; Wikipedia: Helsingør
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Kronborg stands in Helsingør at the northeastern tip of Zealand, Denmark, at the narrowest point of the Øresund, where the strait is only about 4 kilometres wide and Helsingborg in Sweden lies on the opposite shore. It is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000; the Great Hall, the chapel and the underground casemates are the highlights. In the 1420s, Eric of Pomerania (King Eric VII of Denmark) built the fortress of Krogen here to collect the Sound Dues from ships entering or leaving the Baltic. From 1574 to 1585, Frederick II transformed the medieval fortress into a Renaissance castle, named Kronborg after the fortification works were completed in 1577. In 1629 a fire destroyed most of the castle; only the chapel, protected by its vaulted ceiling, survived, and Christian IV ordered it rebuilt. In 1658, during the Dano-Swedish War, Swedish forces besieged and captured the castle and carried off many art treasures. From 1785 the castle served as army barracks until the military left in the early 1920s. The "Elsinore" of Shakespeare's Hamlet is the anglicised name of Helsingør — the castle's literary link to the famous play.
Local customs
Visit the Great Hall and the chapel, and walk around the walls for views over the Øresund. Go down into the underground casemates to see the statue of the sleeping Holger Danske. In summer you may catch a performance of Hamlet in the castle courtyard. Afterwards, visit Helsingør's old town and St Olaf's Church.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Talking loudly in the chapel
- taking photos in galleries where it is not allowed
- climbing on the walls or the railings of the gun emplacements
Locals appreciate DO
- Keep quiet in the chapel, which is still in use
- watch your footing in the dim, damp casemates
- follow the on-site signs on whether photography is allowed
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- Check ticket prices and opening hours on official information. The castle is within walking distance of Helsingør station. The seaside is windy, so bring a windproof jacket for the walls
- the casemates are dim and damp, so non-slip shoes are a good idea.
- Trains from Copenhagen take about an hour to Helsingør station, from where you can walk to the castle
- you can also take the ferry across to Helsingborg in Sweden and enjoy the strait on the way. The castle can be visited all year: summer days are long, with more events and performances
- winter is windy on the strait but quiet, good for a peaceful visit
- around Christmas the castle holds seasonal events, as officially announced.
Photos
Photos
kallerna · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pudelek · CC BY-SA 4.0
