Our first palace-Christiansborg!🏰🌹🐴

Our first castle visit of the trip was to Christiansborg Palace — a grand and inspiring way to begin our Copenhagen discovery tour! As educators, we found so much to explore and connect with: the atmospheric ruins, the stately meeting rooms where Danish leaders still convene, the panoramic views from the tower, the historic royal kitchen, the peaceful garden, and the stables. While there were no horses on site during our visit, there was a beautiful collection of horse-drawn carriages in the stable area. Each area of the complex offered a glimpse into Denmark’s royal history.

To arrive here, our group gathered at Østerport Station. We boarded the Metro and rode to Gammel Strand Station — a quick and easy trip that took about 20 minutes from our host hotel. A short walk brought us to the palace’s interior courtyard, where the entrance is somewhat hidden in an unassuming corner of the complex. Descending the stairs, we began our tour, eager to see how this historic site could inspire ideas for our classrooms and deepen our understanding of Danish culture.

---

Once inside, we descended another set of steps deeper into the palace, and entered the dark, atmospheric world of the ruins beneath Christiansborg Palace. The ceilings were low, the lighting dim, and the space was filled with a sense of history. Many of the original stones have been left intact, giving visitors a powerful connection to the palace’s past.

The story of Christiansborg begins in 1167, when Bishop Absalon built a fortress on this small island to defend Copenhagen from pirate attacks. Over the centuries, the site has evolved being torn down, reshaped again by invasions, destructive fires, and rebuilding efforts. One of the most fascinating features for me was the “double wall” construction of the castle: between the inner and outer stone walls, builders packed mortar and fieldstones. This design helped make the walls more elastic so that stones hurled at the fortress would bounce off rather than break through.

Below, Jasmyn shares her insight into the ruins:

---

We emerged from the depths and went up to the Meeting Rooms. First, we had to don booties and check our bags in a free locker. We also had to use the restroom and this was an impressive one! It was unisex, clean, and well-designed. (See if you can find it below!) By this time the group had gone in many directions. We were all there processing but doing it at our own speeds. We ascended the Queen's staircase to find rooms used by the queen for state dinners, banquets and receptions.

.

Next, we went up the tower to see beautiful views of the city from the tallest point- 348 feet! 

The stables did not open until 1:30pm so we went looking for lunch. We ended up in a beautiful and serene garden where people were sitting on park benches talking around a large circular fountain- a perfect spot!

The stables opened at 1:30 pm and even though the horses were away for a summer holiday, it was worth the visit. I have driven carriages, and these were spectacular! There was also a room with 2 stuffed horses and saddles and bridles on display that were used for special events.

    

The kitchen was next and we crossed the courtyard and descended back down into the basement again. It was surprising to me how much I liked it! The space was beautifully organized, lit with natural sunlight, and the cooking pots hanging on the walls felt like I was looking at stunning still life paintings.Jamie and I also had some fun pretending to cook and prep!😍👩🏽‍🍳👩🏽‍🍳

Jamie and I spent the whole time together working our way slowly through the palace, enjoying all the grand sights! What a great day and experience we had!🙏🏰🌹