In 1621, a three-wing castle stood on the outermost islet as if it had grown out of the water. It was three storeys high, and in accordance with French building design it was closed by a low terrace wing on the fourth side.
The main wing to the north, the King's Wing, was completed in 1604. Here the King and Queen resided on the first floor. The western side wing, the Chapel Wing, with a great hall on the top floor, was completed in 1606. The eastern side wing, the Princess' Wing, was completed in 1608.
The one-storey terrace wing was completed in 1609. On the side facing the moat it was decorated with a gallery of mythological figures in sandstone. Later it was fitted with open arcades facing the courtyard. In the middle stood a splendid portal with the coats of arms of the King and Queen Anna Cathrine. Two marble columns were erected in front of the bridge with sculptures in the round representing Alexander the Great and Caesar.
The towers of Frederiksborg Castle
Towers were erected in all the outer corners. Facing the castle lake were two magnificent octagonal towers with multi-storey spires after a Dutch pattern, while the two round one-storey towers faced the middle islet. The King's Wing had two stair turrets with dome-shaped copper roofs on the façade facing the courtyard.
A monumental square tower was erected on the Chapel Wing. The magnificent tower extended above the roof with its multi-storey spire and obelisks on the corners. The corners of the tower were chamfered – a technique the King had seen during his visit to England in 1606, and which was unprecedented in Denmark at that time.
An angular annex with one side along the Chapel Wing was added to the main castle on the middle islet. A gate building with a secret passage across the moat was erected in 1616. It contained a mint, called the Mint Gate, and later the Audience House.
Sandstone
The Mint Gate and the secret passage differed from the castle in that it was completely faced with sandstone while the other castle buildings were in red brick. The portal is the most dignified building of the whole castle complex with a detached colonnade with figures. The figures include Mars and Venus, probably symbolising Christian IV and Kirsten Munk.
On completion of the extensive castle complex in 1621, the King's Wing facing the courtyard was decorated with something very special: a two-storey gallery of mythological figures mounted between marble columns. This Great Gallery was designed by Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger and executed at Hendrick de Keyser's workshop in Amsterdam. The gallery became famous in the rest of Europe through a work of engravings including Keyser's most important works.
Last updated:: Monday, December 05, 2011
