Rosenborg Castle is not only a beautiful historic building, it is also a fascinating museum of cultural history which houses some of Denmark’s greatest cultural treasures, not least the
Crown Jewels and the Danish Crown Regalia.

The museum tells the history of the Danish kings through 300 years, from Frederik II in the late 16th century to Frederik VII in the 19th century; the history of the kings since then feature in the Amalienborg Museum.

Rosenborg Castle stands today, with its tall towers and its red masonry with sandstone ornaments, as a distinguished example of Christian IV's many building projects, perfect despite many changes during its construction history. The Castle is built in the special Dutch Renaissance style which became typical of Danish buildings during this period. A couple of architects, Bertel Lange and Hans van Steenwinckel, are associated with the Castle. Christian IV's own effort is often discussed but there is no doubt that he came up with many of the ideas.

The history of the Castle goes back to 1606-1607, when the King in a newly laid out park, “The King's Garden” (“Kongens Have”), had a “summerhouse” built. The capital's old medieval castle, Copenhagen Castle, was hardly the ideal residence for a young and ambitious Renaissance ruler. Christian IV preferred Frederiksborg Castle, 35 km away from the city, but it was, of course, more convenient also to have a residence somewhat closer to the capital.