Kronborg Castle, Renaissance castle in Helsingør, Denmark.
The castle stands at the northeastern tip of Zealand island, controlling the narrow Øresund strait between Denmark and Sweden at only 4 kilometers wide.
Built as Krogen fortress in 1420 by King Eric VII, the structure transformed into a Renaissance castle between 1574 and 1585 under King Frederick II.
The castle serves as the setting for Shakespeare's Hamlet, where it appears as Elsinore, and continues to host performances of the play during summer festivals.
The castle offers three different guided tours throughout its rooms, including access to royal apartments, grand ballroom, and Renaissance chapel.
Deep in the castle casemates sits the statue of Ogier the Dane, a legendary figure said to sleep until Denmark needs protection from grave danger.
Location: Helsingør Municipality
Elevation above the sea: 16 m
Website: https://kronborg.dk
GPS coordinates: 56.03861,12.62194
Latest update: May 28, 2025 18:23
These castles are located away from the main tourist destinations and represent different periods of European and American architecture. From medieval fortresses to royal residences, each castle tells its own story. The buildings occupy distinctive locations: on islands, in mountain caves, or surrounded by vineyards. The collection includes structures from various centuries that have remained relatively unknown due to their remote locations or historical circumstances. Some of these castles served as defensive strongholds, while others functioned as aristocratic homes or administrative centers. These sites offer visitors the opportunity to experience historical architecture in quiet settings and learn about the regional characteristics of different countries and periods.
Medieval castles and fortresses span Europe, documenting defense systems and princely seats from the 9th through 16th centuries. These sites include mountaintop strongholds such as Montségur in the Pyrenees, island fortifications like Trakai in Lithuania, and coastal defenses such as Kronborg in Denmark. Construction methods range from Romanesque towers to late medieval artillery positions, from Moorish palaces like the Alhambra to Gothic defensive structures like Burg Eltz. Many of these sites feature multiple rings of fortifications, underground passages, and residential quarters that provide insights into both military and civil aspects of medieval life. The collection includes locations in varied geographical contexts. Predjama Castle in Slovenia is built into a cliff face, while Eilean Donan in Scotland occupies a tidal island. Fortresses such as Sant Ferran near Figueres demonstrate 18th century military architecture with star shaped bastions. Some sites like Neuschwanstein were constructed in the 19th century in historicist style, combining romantic ideals with engineering advances of their era. Further examples include Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley, Peles Castle in the Carpathian Mountains, and Bojnice in Slovakia. These sites document functions ranging from border fortresses to royal residences and show the evolution of European military architecture across several centuries.
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