Copenhagen, Denmark

COPENHAGEN
DENMARK

The Little Mermaid
Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, came from the word KØBENHAVN, meaning "merchant's harbour". It is the home of the famous bronze statue, the Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue), which came from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale of a sea-girl who sacrificed her voice in exchanging her tail for human legs by a sea witch in order to gain the love of an earthly prince, who nevertheless married another girl. In desperation, the mermaid threw herself into the sea and turned to foam. Today, she sits forever on a boulder looking wistfully out to sea.
Besides fairy tales, Copenhagen is the center of the Danish government, administration and finance. It also lodges the oldest royal dynasty in Europe. The city was devastated by two fires in the 18th century and thus most buildings we see today are quite modern in comparison to other Scandinavian capitals.
Little Mermaid
I visited two castles. Christiansborg Palace, a massive 12th-century fortress surrounded by canals on three sides, was built by Bishop Absalonand. Once the home of the royal family, it is now the seat of the Danish Parliament. The Queen still holds royal receptions in the chambers of this palace.
Rosenborg, a magnificent Renaissance castle, was built in 1607 by King Christian IV as a summer residence. It now houses the Danish crown jewels, along with royal costumes and other memorabilia.
The attached picture shows me in the Palace Square, the current royal residence (Amalienborg Palace), which comprises of four identical buildings as the one you see in the background. The changing of the Royal Guards takes place at noon everyday when the Royal Family is in residence. If you find that some of the guards appear to be smallish, that is because they are girls, who now can serve as Royal Life Guards. The umbrella was out because it was the only rainy day of my trip so far (other than the expected drizzle in London when I first arrived there).

Copenhagen, Denmark

Royal Copenhagen (Duration: Approximately 4 Hours)

Two of Europe's great castles are the highlights of this royal tour. Begin with a drive through some of Copenhagen's oldest neighborhoods on your way to the magnificent Renaissance castle of Rosenborg, built in 1607 by King Christian IV as a summer residence. It now houses the Danish crown jewels, along with royal costumes and other memorabilia. Next you’ll visit Christiansborg Palace, a massive 12th-century fortress surrounded by canals on three sides. Built by Bishop Absalon, it was once the home of the royal family and is now the seat of the Danish Parliament. Although twice destroyed by fire, the Baroque structure is impressive, even by European standards. Your guided tour will include a visit to the royal reception chambers. Enjoy a brief tour of Copenhagen’s highlights before returning to the ship.

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