Christiansborg Palace

Before you stands Christiansborg, the political heart of Denmark. Under one roof work the Parliament (the Folketing), the Prime Minister’s Office and the Supreme Court; the Crown also uses its reception rooms and chapel. It is often said to be the only building in the world that houses all three branches of a country’s government.

1Eight centuries on one islet

This is where Absalon built his castle in 1167. The Hanseatic League had it demolished around 1370, and in its place rose Copenhagen Castle, home to the kings for centuries. In the 1730s Christian VI replaced it with a first, Baroque Christiansborg, which burned down in 1794. The second palace, by C. F. Hansen, burned in 1884.

The one you see is the third, built between 1907 and 1928 to a design by Thorvald Jørgensen, in Neo-Baroque style, with reinforced concrete and granite-clad façades.

Beneath your feet lie the remains of the earlier castles: the ruins, open to the public since 1924, reveal Absalon’s defensive wall.

The tower is 106 metres high, the tallest in the city. Its viewing platform is free, with a security check.

The statue in the square depicts Frederik VII, the king who signed Denmark’s first Constitution in 1849 and ended absolute monarchy: a fitting finale for a walk that began with a warrior bishop.

2What to look out for

• The tower and the crowns on its spire.
• The granite façade, massive and austere.
• The equestrian statue of Frederik VII, facing the main entrance.