From Baroque to Romanticism
The baroque garden is recognisable by its long rigid forms, symmetry and terraces. The terraces in front of the castle with the lime trees are still there, but the rest of the garden has drastically changed. When the garden was changed from the baroque to the romantic English style, the Chinese Pavilion was erected and winding paths, channels and the small islands and dense growth gave the park its character.
Frederiksberg Castle Gardens’ plant life is well worth a visit in itself. By the main entrance you can for example enjoy the sight of the beautiful lawn with bulbous plants such as crocus and daffodils every spring.
Royal favour
It was the Danish king Frederik IV (1699-1730) who had Frederiksberg Castle built, but King Frederik VI (1808-1839), who would spend most time at the castle. King Frederik VI used the garden for long walks with his family, and the Copenhageners could see him sail round the canals in a gondola, wearing his admiral uniform. Frederiksberg Castle Gardens and the adjoining Søndermarken were not open to the public at the time and a guard was placed at the entrance to keep out sailors, dogs and people dressed too poorly or carrying large burdens.
Not until 1852 were the gardens opened to the public, which meant that the royal family lost interest in the gardens. Instead the castle was handed over to the Royal Military Academy in 1869, which still resides in the castle.
Photo: Finn Christoffersen |