DESCRIPTION:

Kronborg Castle, made famous by Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 2000. It is situated at the narrowest point on the Øresund, with its guns pointing at the Sound and Sweden, as the Swedes are the Danes’ traditional enemies. Here the Øresund is only 4km or 2.5 miles wide.

In 1629, much of Kronborg was destroyed by fire, but it was rebuilt by King Christian IV. In 1658 Kronborg was captured by the Swedes, who took most of its treasures. It ceased to be a royal palace in 1785 and instead became an army barracks until 1923. Kronborg was opened to the public in 1938.

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If you do decide to go inside Kronborg, the dungeons are well worth a visit. Down in the dungeons is a statue of the Danish legendary hero, Holger Danske. He’s sleeping at the moment, but it is said that if ever Denmark is in danger he will wake up again to protect the country. During the Second World War, the largest Danish Resistance Group was called ‘Holger Danske’. Also worth seeing is the ballroom, which was completed in 1582 and at that time was the largest in Europe. The walls are hung with a series of large paintings, dating from 1613 to 1631. The present floor dates from the refurbishment of 1924 to 1938.