Housed in Christian IV's old brewery, an extraordinary building dating from 1608, the Lapidarium of the Kings features original royal sculptures from Denmark's castles and gardens. Among these are the original, 18th-century sandstone figures from Normandsdalen at Fredensborg Slot, unique in their depiction of common Norwegians and Faroese. Even more extraordinary is French sculptor JFJ Saly's 18th-century equestrian statue of Frederik V, more than 20 years in the making and more expensive than the entire Amalienborg Palace when completed.
Considered one of the most beautiful equestrian statues in the world, the work had to be cut and reassembled to simply fit inside the museum. It's a tight squeeze, with a mere four centimetres between Frederik V's laurel wreath and the ceiling. Close by stands AC Lamoureux's dramatic 17th-century sculpture of Christian V on horseback, the first equestrian-themed statue of a Scandinavian king. Its 20th-century bronze replica now graces Kongens Nytorv.
