Elsinore - Kronborg Castle -- near Copenhagen, Denmark

Kronborg Castle in Helsingør is the actual castle that William Shakespeare set Hamlet in.  In his famous play, the castle was called Elsinore, which has become the English name for Helsingør.   Located an hour north of Copenhagen, Denmark, it is still a mystery whether Shakespeare actually ever visited the castle.

Kronborg Castle

 Regardless, he doubtless heard the stories of the beautiful castle and the fabulous banquets held there.  He wrote this world-renowned tragedy around 1600 before the fire devastated the infamous castle.

Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, Kronborg Castle has existed since 1420.  Although it burned to the ground and has been rebuilt, its strategic position at the head of  Øresund Sound placed Helsingør as one of the most important cities in Europe when passing ships were bound to stop and pay tolls before sailing into the Baltic Sea.   

With these Sound Dues, Frederick II adorned the castle with spires, sandstone and copper roofs making it one of the most beautiful castles of the Renaissance period.  Lavish court life vanished after the fire of 1629 taking all its rich furnishings leaving only its exterior walls.

Interior Kronborg Castle

Frederick II had ordered a series of rich tapestries depicting 1,000 years of Danish history to adorn the Ballroom, or Great Hall, built for his queen Sophie.   Of the 43 historic tapestries all but 15 were destroyed in the fire, and seven are on display at Kronborg.

The palace was rebuilt within ten years but never regained its former glory.  The Swedish king Karl Gustav (husband of Queen Hedvig Leonora of Drottningholm Palace fame) plundered Kronborg in 1658-1660 and for 300 years, the castle served only as a fortress and barracks.

Twisted passageways and secret crypts offer a mystique to the castle. These hidden casemates were built 1574-76 after the fire to provide a hiding place for soldiers, their horses, and provisions…enough to feed 1,000 men for six weeks.

Holger Danske

Deep underground visitors will find the imposing statue of Holger the Dane (Holger Danske), a legendary figure in Danish culture.  As the story goes, if Denmark is ever in trouble, he awakes from his rocky throne to defend her.

While touring the castle, use wifi to listen to stories about the castle’s main rooms.  Look for signs with QR codes on window sills.  Scan the code and get the exciting story of the room, what it was used for, and who lived there.  Be sure to have a QR code reader already loaded on your smart phone.

In the summer of 2017, Hamlet characters will take up residence in the halls and chambers of Kronborg Castle.  Although this Hamlet Live tour costs more than a regular admission ticket, visitors just might run into them while they are roaming around the castle.  Don’t be surprised to see Hamlet or Ophelia wandering the halls.