VisitNordsjælland

Three Castles and a Historic Abbey in North Zealand

Visit Frederiksborg Castle, Fredensborg Palace and Kronborg Castle, and explore medieval history at Esrum Abbey. Some of Denmark’s most important royal and historic attractions are located close together in North Zealand – within easy reach of Copenhagen.

Frederiksborg Castle
Frederiksborg Castle
Photo: Ann Jørgensen© VisitNorthZealand
Fredensborg Palace rises towards the sky
Fredensborg Slot
Photo: Ann Jørgensen© VisitNorthZealand
Esrum Monastery's red brick building is located at the end of a large grassy field.
Photo: Tine Uffelmann© VisitNorthZealand

A Royal North Zealand

For centuries, North Zealand has been closely connected with the Danish monarchy. Danish kings used the region for hunting, recreation and royal residences, and their legacy can still be seen in the landscape, castles and historic gardens.

At Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød, Fredensborg Palace and Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, you can discover different chapters of Denmark’s royal history. The historic landscape continues into Royal North Zealand National Park and the UNESCO-listed Par Force Hunting Landscape.

Frederiksborg Castle – Danish royal history
Frederiksborg Castle – Danish royal history
Photo: VisitNordsjælland
Frederiksborg Castle – Danish royal history
Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød is one of Denmark’s most impressive Renaissance castles and is home to the Museum of National History. Set on three small islands in the Castle Lake, it tells more than 500 years of Danish history through art, architecture and royal stories.
Read more
Fredensborg Palace – Royal Palace and Gardens
Fredensborg Palace
Photo: Carsten Ingemann
Fredensborg Palace – Royal Palace and Gardens
Fredensborg Palace offers grand architecture, royal tales, and one of Denmark’s most magnificent baroque gardens. History and nature come together in perfect harmony.
Read more
Kronborg Castle
Kronborg slot
Photo: Oliver Bock
Kronborg Castle
Kronborg is one of Northern Europe's finest Renaissance castles. It is world-renowned as Hamlet's and Shakespeare's castle and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Read more
Esrum Abbey & Møllegård – Culture and Nature
Esrum Abbey & Møllegård – Culture and Nature
Photo: Daniel Villadsen
Esrum Abbey & Møllegård – Culture and Nature
Esrum Abbey is a historic Cistercian abbey in North Zealand dating back to the 12th century. Discover the history of the abbey, exhibitions and activities in green surroundings close to Lake Esrum and Royal North Zealand National Park.
Read more

The Most Beautiful Castle Gardens

Explore the historic gardens at Frederiksborg Castle and Fredensborg Palace. Walk through the symmetrical Baroque Garden at Frederiksborg, explore the extensive gardens at Fredensborg, and discover the distinctive sculptures of the Valley of the Norsemen.

Frederiksborg Castle Gardens – Formal Baroque and Romantic Landscape
Frederiksborg Castle Gardens – Formal Baroque and Romantic Landscape
Photo: SLKE© Det Nationalhistoriske Museum Frederiksborg Slot
Frederiksborg Castle Gardens – Formal Baroque and Romantic Landscape
Frederiksborg Castle Gardens are an important part of the experience you get when visiting Frederiksborg Castle in Hillerød.
Read more
Fredensborg Palace Garden – royal gardens and nature
Fredensborg Palace Garden – royal gardens and nature
Photo: Thomas Rahbek
Fredensborg Palace Garden – royal gardens and nature
Fredensborg Castle Garden is Denmark's most magnificent, unique royal baroque garden. You will find a unique insight into Danish history, architecture, gardening, and sculptural art in the castle garden, which merge into one cultural gem.
Read more
Nordmandsdalen – unique sculptures in Fredensborg Palace Garden
Nordmandsdalen – unique sculptures in Fredensborg Palace Garden
Photo: Ann Jørgensen
Nordmandsdalen – unique sculptures in Fredensborg Palace Garden
Sculptures in royal gardens typically depict the exalted gods and goddesses of antiquity. But in Fredensborg Palace Garden, you’ll find a truly unique attraction: 70 sandstone sculptures of ordinary…
Read more

Experience the Middle Ages in North Zealand

Medieval North Zealand is home to abbeys, castle ruins and stories of royal power and everyday life. Visit Esrum Abbey, founded in 1151, explore the ruins of Æbelholt Abbey, or discover the castle ruins of Dronningholm, Asserbo and Søborg.

Æbelholt Abbey Ruins – step into medieval life and history
Æbelholt Klostermuseum
Photo: Museum Nordsjælland
Æbelholt Abbey Ruins – step into medieval life and history
Explore the historical ruins of Æbelholt Monastery, where travellers and the poor received food and medical aid in the Middle Ages. The museum houses fascinating archaeological finds, including medical instruments and skeletons, providing insight into life and diseases before modern medicine.
Read more
Dronningholm Castle Ruin
Dronningholm Castle Ruin
Photo: Kasper Nielsen, Naturen i Danmark
Dronningholm Castle Ruin
Dronningholm Castle was a Danish medieval castle. Originally begun by Valdemar the Great, it was completed by Valdemar the Victorious around the year 1200, and according to legend, it was a wedding gift to Queen Dagmar in connection with their wedding.
Read more
Asserbo Castle Ruin
Asserbo Castle Ruin
Photo: VisitNordsjælland
Asserbo Castle Ruin
Inside between the trees in Tisvilde Hegn is Asserbo Castle Ruin. The remaining walls and moat bear witness to a former magnificent castle and are today an idyllic place to visit.
Read more
Søborg Castle Ruins Reflected in Søborg Lake
Søborg Slotsruin
Photo: VisitNordsjælland
Søborg Castle Ruins Reflected in Søborg Lake
Søborg Castle Ruins and the restored Søborg Lake together form a unique landscape of history and nature in North Zealand. Visitors can experience both a medieval power centre and a tranquil natural area.
Read more

The Royal Landscape – National Park and UNESCO World Heritage

North Zealand’s royal history extends far beyond its castles. In Royal North Zealand National Park, nature and cultural history come together among forests, lakes and historic landscapes.

Explore the Par Force Hunting Landscape in North Zealand, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic landscape tells the story of the Danish kings’ par force hunting and how the forests were shaped for royal hunts.

National Park Royal North Zealand
National Park Royal North Zealand
Photo: Daniel Overbeck the newborn
National Park Royal North Zealand
With its breathtaking nature areas and unique cultural history, the National Park of Royal North Zealand is a treasure trove of experiences for nature lovers. The deep forests, large lakes and bogs, salt marshes and dunes invite you to a wealth of activities.
Read more
The Par Force Hunting Landscape in North Zealand
The Par Force Hunting Landscape in North Zealand
Photo: VisitNordsjælland
The Par Force Hunting Landscape in North Zealand
The Par Force Hunting Landscape is a UNESCO-World Heritage. Store Dyrehave (the Great Deer Park), Gribskov and Jægersborg Dyrehave (Jægersborg Deerpark) is designed as a stage for the great act…
Read more

Explore Castles and an Abbey on Your Trip to North Zealand

Frederiksborg Castle, Fredensborg Palace, Kronborg Castle and Esrum Abbey are all located in North Zealand and can easily be combined with towns, nature and other attractions. Visit one or more on a day trip, or spread the experiences over several days.

Always check current opening hours, access and guided tour options with each attraction before visiting.