The royal family’s summer residence, Fredensborg Palace was built in 1720 by Frederik IV. The main Italian baroque mansion, with its marble floors and a large central cupola, can only be visited in July, when the royal family holidays elsewhere. Whenever the royal family is in residence, the building is flanked by smart Little-Tin-Soldier guards, with white-striped uniforms and bearskin hats. The changing of the guard is at noon daily.
Fredensborg Slot's interior is not as impressive as some other Danish royal palaces, and the true highlight is the palace gardens, a blending of baroque formality and a more luxuriant Romantic vision. Interestingly, the name – ‘Peace Palace’ – commemorates the truce that Denmark had just achieved with its Scandinavian neighbours. Indeed, the country-manor appearance reflects the more tranquil mood of that era, an abrupt contrast with the moat-encircled fortresses of Kronborg and Frederiksborg that preceded it.
The palace is about 1km from the train station, and well signposted.
