Zealand - Denmark - page 220

The royal family's summer residence, Fredensborg Slot was built in 1720 by Frederik IV.
The main Italian baroque mansion, with its marble floors and a large central cupola, can
only be visited in July, when the royal family holidays elsewhere. Whenever the royal
family is in residence, the building is flanked by smart Little-Tin-Soldier guards, with
white-striped uniforms and bearskin hats. The changing of the guard is at noon daily.
Fredensborg Slot's interior is not as impressive as some other Danish royal palaces, and
the true highlight is the palace gardens, a blending of baroque formality and a more luxuri-
ant Romantic vision. Interestingly, the name - 'Peace Palace' - commemorates the truce
that Denmark had just achieved with its Scandinavian neighbours. Indeed, the country-
manor appearance reflects the more tranquil mood of that era, an abrupt contrast with the
moat-encircled fortresses of Kronborg and Frederiksborg that preceded it.
The palace is about 1km from the train station, and well signposted.

Fredensborg Slotshave GARDENS
( Palace Park year-round, Private Garden 9am-5pm Jul)
While Fredensborg Slot's Palace Park , a 120-hectare spread of soothing woodland, is
open to the public year-round, the Private Garden is only accessible in July. During this
time, visitors can snoop around the royal family's Orangery and Herb Garden (joint tick-
et to palace, orangery & herb garden adult/child Dkr75/30; tours (in English) 2.30pm daily Jul only)
on guided tours. The Palace Park itself is crossed by long riding avenues that radiate out-
wards from the palace. Its most unusual feature is Normandsdalen , a circular amphi-
theatre containing 70 life-sized statues of Norwegian and Faroese folk characters.
The original small wooden dolls of these fishermen, farmers, soldiers and servants were
carved by an 18th-century Norwegian postman, Jørgen Christensen Garnaas, who sent
them to King Frederik V. Frederik liked them so much he had them made from sandstone.

Esrum Sø LAKE

About 1km west of the palace gate along Skipperallé, you'll come to heart-fluttering Es-
rum Sø, Denmark's second-largest lake at 17 sq km. A trail skirts around its shores, or you
can explore the water by boat. You'll find a lakeside restaurant, Skipperhuset , as well as
canoes and kayaks ( www.kanokongen.dk ; Sørupvej 1; canoe hire 1hr/1-4hrs Dkr150/250 ;
10am-7pm Jul & Aug) for hire. There's also a summer ferry ( 48 48 01 07;