Copenhagen

T H E SU R R O U N D IN G S -O F COPENHAGEN.

FREDERIKS­ BORG CASTLE

T he little architectural gem called the Bath House (Badstuen) in the adjo in t w ood is due to Frederick II. In 1603 Christian IV. began to build the castle. For twenty years the work w ent on, bu t at the end of that time a castle had been reared which was w orthy of its builder. It was in the style of the Dutch Renais­ sance, of red stone, with bands, p ro jecting bays, and other em bellishm ents of grey sandstone, and three great towers, above whose slender pierced spires the gilded weather-cocks gleam ed in the sun. Here dw elt D enm ark’s hero-king, except when he was at sea fighting D enm ark ’s foes, and many were the m em entoes preserved in the old castle of the monarch. In a single n igh t all sp lendou r vanished. Tow ards Christm as­ time in 1859, when K ing F rederick VII. and his consort, the Countess D anner, occupied the castle, an unfortunate fire broke out which completely destroyed the building, leaving only the charred outer walls standing. All Denmark, however, was unan im ou s in favour of rebu ild ing F rederik sbo rg Castle, and a national subscription was started. Money poured in, and, as the g roun d -p lan s of the Castle had luckily been saved from the flames, it was possible to re-erect it exactly in its original form. To Meldahl, the architect, and Heinrich Hansen,

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