All right, you’re approaching the legendary Rosenborg Castle Gardens. Have a look to your right-notice that wide, lush green lawn stretching out before you? Keep walking until you spot a castle that looks like it leapt out of a fairy tale, with its tall, pointy green towers poking into the sky. If you see a massive, old tree standing like a wise old guard in the grass, and beyond it a grand, cinnamon-colored castle with three spires, congratulations! You’ve arrived at the King’s Garden.
Now, close your eyes for a moment-well, unless you’re walking, then maybe keep one eye open for bikes. Imagine it’s the early 1600s. The air is full of the scent of lavender, apples, and mulberries. King Christian IV, Denmark’s master of building projects and probably the guy who loved castles more than anyone, wanted himself a little pleasure garden. This was his own special slice of paradise, with paths winding through fruit trees, flower beds, and a maze where maybe, just maybe, he’d get lost every now and then.
Back then, these gardens weren’t just pretty-they supplied the royal kitchen! You might have spotted the barracks near the edge of the park, home to the Royal Life Guards. If you wander around, you’ll find sculptures, tiny artful buildings like pavilions, and-if you stand real still-possibly overhear the distant echo of a royal garden party from centuries past. Try not to get pulled into a time loop, though. That would make for a long tour.
As trends changed-hey, even kings had to keep up with the latest in garden fashion-maze paths once twisted through the lawns, meeting up at an octagonal summerhouse, perfect for royal hide-and-seek.
After all the parties and secret strolls, the royals mostly moved to other palaces, and, in a plot twist, the gardens opened up to the public. Gardeners like Johan Cornelius Krieger gave it a fresh Baroque look and planted famous lime tree avenues. If you look around, you’ll see those trees lining the paths-The Knight’s Path and The Lady’s Path-crisscrossing to meet in the middle, almost like a leafy green X marks the spot.
Don’t miss the little worlds inside this park: a Perennials Garden full of color, a Rose Garden, and peeking out near the end of a grand avenue, the Hercules Pavilion, where the strongman himself stands guard.
No matter which entrance you came in-there are six!-you’re standing somewhere that’s been passed through by kings, queens, poets, gardners, and, now, you. If these trees could talk, who knows what royal secrets they would whisper? Maybe try giving one a gentle pat-if it winks back, let me know!
Interested in knowing more about the layout, buildings or the public art
