COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Copenhagen, which was proclaimed as the national capital in 1417, has a long history as the ‘Royal’ city of Denmark. The location of the city, at the mouth of the Baltic and astride the trade routes between continental Europe and Scandinavia, made it the obvious choice for the Danish Monarchs, who once reigned over large parts of Sweden and Norway.

Copenhagen, which was proclaimed as the national capital in 1417, has a long history as the ‘Royal’ city of Denmark. The location of the city, at the mouth of the Baltic and astride the trade routes between continental Europe and Scandinavia, made it the obvious choice for the Danish Monarchs, who once reigned over large parts of Sweden and Norway. We will board our coach for a very memorable tour through the old city to the renaissance Rosenborg Castle. The castle was built in 1607 by King Christian IV, who decided to build himself a summer residence with inspiration from Versailles. It houses the Danish crown jewels and a unique collection of treasures and furniture. On the top floor there is a large collection of silver furniture as well as tapestries that used to be at Christiansborg Palace. The Rosenborg Park is called the King's Garden (‘Kongens Have’) and is a very popular oasis to Copenhageners and visitors alike. Our tour will then take us to Christiansborg Palace – until 1794 the home of the Danish Royal Family. After several fires, the palace was rebuilt between 1907 and 1928, and today houses the Danish Parliament. We will visit the Royal Reception Rooms, used by the Queen when entertaining VIP visitors and heads of foreign states. Of special interest are the new tapestries given to the Queen on her 50th birthday in 1990, and only completed in 2000, which decorate the large banqueting hall. En route back to the ship we pass the landmark of Copenhagen – the statue of the Little Mermaid.

This tour involves a moderate amount of walking at Rosenborg Castle and Christiansborg Palace, and numerous steps will be encountered. Our visits will last approximately one hour at each site. It is not suitable for passengers with limited mobility or wheelchair users. No bags are allowed inside Rosenborg – they can be left on the coach during the visit. To enter Christiansborg Palace protective overshoes must be worn, again bags are not permitted inside, and photography is prohibited.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2008 SCANDINAVIA & BALTIC SEASON