Discover 11 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Elsinore (Denmark). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Kronborg, Helsingør Domkirke, and Carmelite Priory. Also, be sure to include Helsingør Bymuseum in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Elsinore (Hovedstaden).
Table of Contents
Kronborg
16th-century castle with royal chambers. Kronborg is a castle and stronghold in the town of Helsingør, Denmark. Immortalized as Elsinore in William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, Kronborg is one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2000.
The castle is situated on the extreme northeastern tip of the island of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between present Denmark and the provinces of present Sweden that were also Danish at the time the castle was built. In this part, the sound is only 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) wide, hence the strategic importance of maintaining a coastal fortification at this location commanding one of the few outlets of the Baltic Sea.
The castle's story dates back to a stronghold, Krogen, built by King Eric VII in the 1420s. Along with the fortress Kärnan in Helsingborg on the opposite coast of Øresund, it controlled the entranceway to the Baltic Sea. From 1574 to 1585, King Frederick II had the medieval fortress radically transformed into a magnificent Renaissance castle. The main architects were the Flemings Hans Hendrik van Paesschen and Anthonis van Obbergen, whereas the sculptural work was coordinated by Gert van Groningen.
In 1629, a fire destroyed much of the castle, but King Christian IV subsequently had it rebuilt. The castle also has a church within its walls. In 1658, Kronborg was besieged and captured by the Swedes who took many of its valuable art treasures as war booty. In 1785 the castle ceased to be a royal residence and was converted into barracks for the Army. The Army left the castle in 1923, and after a thorough renovation it was opened to the public.[1]
Address: Kronborg 2 C, 3000 Helsingør
Helsingør Domkirke
Also known as: Sankt Olai Kirke
Cathedral in Helsingør, Kingdom of Denmark. Saint Olaf's Church is the cathedral church of Helsingør in the north of Zealand, Denmark. With a history going back to around 1200, the present building was completed in 1559. In 1961, the church was given the status of cathedral in connection with the establishment of the Diocese of Helsingør.[2]
Address: Skt. Annagade 12, Elsinore
Carmelite Priory
The Carmelite Priory, Helsingør, or Priory of Our Lady, Helsingør, was a house of Carmelite friars in Helsingør, Zealand, Denmark, established in 1430. It is the finest example of a complete monastic complex surviving in Denmark, and one of the best in all of Scandinavia.[3]
Address: Sct. Anna Gade 38, Elsinore
Helsingør Bymuseum
Museum in Helsingør, Kingdom of Denmark. Helsingør City Museum is a local history museum in Helsingørm Denmark. The 16th-century building in which it is based is known as the Cammelite House although the Carmelite brothers from the adjacent Priory of Our Lady have in fact only built a minor part of the build.[4]
Address: Sct Anna Gade 36, 3000 Helsingør
M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark
Also known as: M/S Museet for Søfart
Museum in Denmark. The M/S Maritime Museum of Denmark is a maritime museum located in Helsingør, Denmark. Established in 1915, its collections cover Danish trade and shipping from the 15th century to the present day.
The museum was originally located at Kronborg Castle. In 2013, the museum moved into new underground premises designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) around a former dry dock. Until 31 December 2011, the museum was known as Handels- og Søfartsmuseet (literally "The Trade and Maritime Museum"), which was officially translated as the Danish Maritime Museum.[5]
Address: Ny Kronborgvej 1, 3000 Helsingoer
Marienlyst Slot
Building in Helsingør, Denmark. Marienlyst Castle is a palatial residence located in Helsingør, Denmark. It was named after King Frederik V of Denmark's second wife, Juliana Maria, the queen consort of Denmark and Norway. The building formerly served as a royal pavilion of Kronborg Castle and was mostly used as a venue for pleasure and hunting. It was also used by the director-general of the Øresund Custom House, Colonel Adam Gottlob von Krogh and his wife Magdalene, between 1796 and 1847.
Hans van Steenwinckel, the royal architect, designed and built the original pavilion and parterre garden in 1587, for King Frederick II of Denmark. The royal estate was then purchased in 1758 by Count Adam Gottlob Moltke, who completely changed the original pavilion and garden with the help of French architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin between 1759 and 1763. The additions led to its present-day architectural structure and façade. Jardin also redesigned the original parterre gardens, changing them to a larger, more modern garden à la française design, with symmetrical hedges, avenues, fountains and mirror ponds. Within the castle wall boundaries, these elegant garden grounds remain to a large extent intact, but outside, much of the garden has been lost, including the most renowned romantic landscape garden in Denmark, designed by Johan Ludvig Mansa in the 1790s. This was mostly due to the sale of much of the original property by the Helsingør municipality which had purchased the entire Marienlyst estate at auction in 1851. One of the lot purchasers was J.S. Nathanson, who in 1859 built Hotel Marienlyst, the first luxury hotel in Helsingør, named after the castle.
Between 1919 and 1921, local Helsingør gardener Gudmund Nyeland Brandt, removed the last remnants of the romantic gardens, replacing them with an 18th-century garden design to match the castle's classical architecture. For the most part it is these gardens visitors will see today. They have been part of Helsingør Municipality Museums since 1930.[6]
Address: Marienlyst Alle 32, 3000 Helsingoer
Kulturværftet
Theatre in Helsingør, Kingdom of Denmark. Kulturværftet is a cultural centre located in Helsingør, Denmark.
The center was established in 2010, in the buildings of the former Helsingør Værft or Elsinore Shipyard. Kulturværftet is part of Kulturhavn Kronborg, a project by the city of Helsingør to leave the industrial era behind and enter a new chapter for the town.
Kulturhavn Kronborg is a joint initiative between Kronborg Castle, the Danish Maritime Museum, Kulturværftet, and Helsingør harbour, and is designed to offer a variety of cultural experiences to residents and visitors.
Kulturværftet consists of 13,000 m2 (140,000 sq ft) of space dedicated to concerts, theatre, performance, events and exhibitions.
Recent notable events include hosting the annual Clickfestival and hosting the INDEX: Award Ceremony[7]
Address: Allegade 2, 3000 Helsingør
Skibsklarerergaarden
Museum in Helsingør, Denmark. Skibsklarerergaarden, literally "The Ship Handler's House"), is a historic house museum and listed building situated on Strandgade in Helsingør, Denmark. A "ship handler" handled the paperwork at Øresund Custom House for captains in connection with Denmark's collection of Sound Dues from all ships that passed through the Øresund. The Sound Duty was collected on and off between 1429 and 1857 and was one of Denmark's most important sources of income as well as a major cause of local prosperity in Helsingør. The ground floor of the building contains a Ship-chandler with Denmark's oldest surviving shop interior. The building is also known as Rasmussens Gård.[8]
Address: Strandgade 91, 3000 Helsingør
St. Vincent's Church
Catholic church in Helsingør, Kingdom of Denmark. St. Vincent Church is a parish of the Roman Catholic Church in Helsingør, Denmark. The church, consecrated in 1930, is the only Roman Catholic church in North Zealand. It is located in Nygade, opposite Helsingør Cemetery. It is dedicated to the French saint Vincent de Paul and administered by the Vincentian Fathers.[9]
Helsingør Cemetery
Cemetery in Helsingør, Kingdom of Denmark. Helsingør Cemetery is a cemetery in Helsingør, Denmark. It serves the parishes of St. Olai, St. Mary, Vestervang and Sthen. Founded in the second half of the 16th century, it was originally used as a burial ground for the poor but became the city principal cemetery in the 1820.
It is bordered by Nygade, I.L. Tvedes Vej and Møllebakken[10]
Danmarks Tekniske Museum
Danmarks Tekniske Museum is a technical museum located Fabriksvej 25 in Helsingør. It exhibits aircraft, vintage cars, steam engines, bicycles, computers, telephones and much more technology on 8,000 square meters. During the holidays there are usually special activities for children. Outside, on certain days, it is possible to take a mini train.
Address: Fabriksvej 25, Elsinore