Visit Christiansborg Palace

Christiansborg Palace is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen. For a visitor walking around central Copenhagen, the towering central spire and imposing neo-baroque edifice are pretty hard to miss.

So what actually goes on in this building and why is it worth a visit?

The special thing about Christiansborg is that it houses the executive power, the legislative power, and the judicial power. Okay maybe that doesn’t sound very special, but it’s actually the only building in the world that houses all three of a country's branches of government in a single place.

This single government location has led to the Christiansborg coming to be used to refer to the entire Danish political system, or simply the word Borgen ('the castle'). Any fans of Danish TV will recognise Borgen from the political series which ran for three seasons from 2010, and was set inside the walls of Christiansborg.

(Some of) the history of Christiansborg Palace

Copenhagen was officially founded in 1167 on the exact spot where Christiansborg Palace is located. The founder was a bishop from the town of Roskilde (which until then had been the capital of Denmark) called Absalon. He wanted to protect the sea in the area from pirates and therefore built a castle on this spot. There is a statue of Absalon on horseback near the castle to commemorate this event.

Since then the castle has been expanded and burned down many times. The main building is the fifth castle/palace on the same site and was finished as late as 1928. However, The Palace Church dates from the fourth castle built in 1826. And the two grey wings of the courtyard containing the Royal Stables and the Court Theater date from the third castle built in the 1740s.

Christiansborg Palace is located on a small island called ‘Slotsholmen’ (Castle Island). When the first castle was built in 1167 it was a small island. Today, it has been enlarged and it is hard to see that it is an island because the area around it has been landfilled as Copenhagen has grown. So you are looking at land on three of the island’s four sides. But since it is surrounded by canals of sea water, it is technically still an island.

Christiansborg Palace (or the castles before it on the same spot) has been the centre of power in Denmark since the early 1400s when the capital of Denmark was moved from Roskilde to Copenhagen. Until the third castle burnt down in 1794 it was also the primary royal residence and since 1849 it has also been the seat of parliament.

Visiting Christiansborg Palace

Given the importance of Christiansborg and its daily usage as a workplace for hundreds of people, a surprising amount of it is open to the public. The palace is roughly divided in the middle, with the Parliament in the southern wing and the Royal Reception Rooms, the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister's Office in the northern wing.

Parts of the palace are used by the Royal Family for various functions and events. The Royal Reception Rooms include The Tower Room and The Oval Throne Room where foreign ambassadors to Denmark are received by the Queen. The Throne Room gives access to the balcony where the Danish monarchs are still proclaimed.

Due to its location, Christiansborg is pretty accessible by foot from the centre of Copenhagen. It’s a short stroll north from the central station and Tivoli, although if you are travelling from further afield I’ve noted some of the nearest train and bus stops to the palace below:

• Gammel Strand Metro Station (metro, bus)

• Harbour bus: The Royal Library

• Metro: Gammel Strand Metro Station (metro, bus)

• Trains: Copenhagen Central Station or Nørreport Station.