The curator's tour of Frederiksborg Castle

Why it is on the list

Frederiksborg was built for Christian IV in the early 17th century on three islets in the castle lake, the largest Renaissance residence in Scandinavia; since 1882 it has held the Museum of National History, with the largest collection of portrait paintings in Denmark.¹ This tour is given by the museum's own curators and experts, and it covers the subject the party chooses, in the permanent collection or a special exhibition.² The ordinary guided tours are given by museum guides, for groups of up to 30.³ The castle church, the Great Hall and the Audience Chamber are part of the visit.⁴ A 30-minute concert on the Compenius organ of 1610 in the castle church can follow, with an introduction to how the instrument works.⁵

It is a one-hour tour of the collections in a working museum, not a private opening of the castle.² For a castle seen after closing, book the Secrets of Kronborg tour outside opening hours instead.⁶

How to get it

Write to booking@dnm.dk with the date and time, the subject you want, the number of people and your contact details.² Ask in the same message for the organ concert if you want it; it can be booked alone or joined to a special tour.⁵ The tour costs DKK 5,000 for one hour; the concert costs DKK 2,500 plus museum admission.²⁵ The museum's switchboard is +45 4826 0439, answered 9.00 to 12.00 on weekdays.⁷

Hillerød is on the S-train from Copenhagen, and the castle is about 15 minutes' walk from the station; buses 301 and 302 stop close to it.⁸ By car, the free park at Rendelæggerbakken 6 leads through the Baroque garden, about a kilometre on foot; the paid car park on Møntportvejen is about 300 m from the castle.⁸

Discretion

The tour is given for your party alone, by a curator, on the subject you set.² The organ concert is booked for your party as well; the museum also gives a public organ presentation every Thursday at 13:30.⁵⁴ From the free car park at Rendelæggerbakken 6 the way in is on foot through the Baroque garden.⁸