Rosenborg Castle

Returning to Copenhagen from Æro, we visited Rosenborg Castle. The Dutch Renaissance-style castle was built in the early 17th century by King Christian IV as a summer residence. We met up again with Richard Caplan, our guide dressed as Hans Christian Andersen, for a tour and Danish history lesson.

As a gardener, I was struck by the beauty of the royal "pleasure gardens" that surround the castle. Originally designed in the early 1600s to include both kitchen and ornamental gardens, today the garden is mostly ornamental. However, it retains the formal style of Renaissance beds and paths. All of the plants are varieties which were known in the 1600s.

The interior of the castle is a showplace of Danish royal treasure. While you can tour the castle on your own, our guide really made the tour a walk through Danish royal history. We toured three floors. Most impressive was the Throne Room, featuring the Long Hall where banquets were held and the king and queen presided on their thrones.

The basement vault houses the royal Danish treasury. Precious jewels and historic possessions are on display. The crown jewels are still worn at special occasions.

Farewell to Denmark

We proceeded to the Copenhagen harbor, said goodbye to the Little Mermaid, and sailed away on an all-night ferry to Oslo. As the ship left the harbor, we were reminded of this country's commitment to sustainable energy.

The stacks and angled roof are part of Copenhagen's modern waste incinerator. The sloped roof doubles as a ski slope. Here and in Sweden, low carbon-emitting plants turn waste into electricity and steam heat.

Day 9 – Oslo