Rosenborg Slot, a royal palace, houses a museum and the treasury where the
royal regalia and jewels are kept. Downstairs is a public viewing room where
you can marvel at incredible jewelry. These include Christian IV's ornately
designed crown; the jewel-studded sword of Christian III; and Queen Margrethe
II's emeralds and pearls, which are kept here when the queen is not wearing
them to official functions. The palace was built in Dutch Renaissance style by
Christian IV to serve as his summer home. A century later Frederik IV, who felt
cramped at Rosenborg, built a larger palace north of the city in the town of Fredensborg.
Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace
is located on the island of Slotsholmen,
connected to the rest of the city by a series of bridges. It contains the Denmark
government offices. The original Christiansborg palace was constructed in the
1730s to replace the pokey Copenhagen
Castle and several buildings,
namely the royal stables and edifices surrounding the main courtyard, date from
this time. Folketinget, the parliamentary chamber, can be toured on Sunday
year-round, as well as on weekdays over summer. The tour includes a peek at
Wanderer's Hall, which contains the original copy of Denmark's
Constitution. For sheer Renaissance grandness, De Kongelige
Repræsentationslokaler or the Royal Reception Chambers won't disappoint. It's
where royal banquets are held and heads of state entertained.
Tivoli
Tivoli is a beautiful
combination of amusement park and flower garden. It is a particularly lovely
place when the lights that accent the trees and buildings are turned on. The
rides are not quite as gut wrenchingly thrilling as some are in American theme
parks, but Tivoli itself is
spotlessly clean. There are also some sumptuous restaurants available. Tivoli
has been operating for over 150 years and so has had plenty of time to figure
out how to best cater to the hordes of tourists and locals, many trailing
enthusiastic youngsters, who flock there between mid-April and late-September
each year. There are all the usual fun-park attractions, such as roller
coasters, Ferris wheel, open-air performances, carnival games and food
pavilions. For the more cultured palates, there are also traditional folk
dances and a large concert hall hosting international symphony orchestras and
ballet troupes. Tivoli also opens
up for a few weeks prior to Christmas for holiday festivities, a seasonal
market and ice-skating on the lake.