National Park Kongernes Nordsjælland

Natural sights

natural sights
Fruebjerg

is a historic 65 meter hill-top in the middle of the forest, which towers well at least for Denmark above the surrounding area's and offers some nice views over Northern Zealand. The site was home of the massive fruebjergmødere gatherings at the turn of the 19th century, closely related to Grundtvigs folk high school movement. A tradition that has recently been revived.

natural sights
Troldeskoven

is a special area of Tisvilde Hegn where 100-200 years old weather worn Scots Pines with twisted and crooked branches creates a peculiar atmosphere, which has prompted locals to dub the area the - enchanted or troll - forest. The phonemon is caused by strong winds and poor soil conditions.

natural sights
Esrum Canal

is a 9 km canal between Esrum Sø lake and the north coast at Dronningmølle, build in 1805 to transport timber from the forests to Copenhagen. The canal lost it's importance when the railway was build, and was subsequently abandoned. However, It's still visible in the landscape, and while partly overgrown, parts still carry water and many of the old installations related to the canal is still there. The trail where horses used to haul the prams along the canal, still exists, and offers a fantastic walk.

Royal remains

royal remains
Dronningholm Slotsruin
Auderødvej 40
nearest address

A castle ruin. Originally build by King Valdemar II 1170-1241 for his wife Dagmar in the 12th century. It was since passed on to Seignory, and eventually to decay. Many of building materials was used to reconstruct a local mill after a fire, and so only the foundations remains, but there is nice views over the lake.

royal remains
Asserbo Slotsruin
Bisp Absalonsvej 31
nearest address

Erected as a monastery by Absalon, the founder of Copenhagen, in the 11th century for the Carthusian Order, it was since converted to a palace, taken over by the king, and abandoned after a fire. Archaeological excavations have since exposed the foundations and remaining parts of the walls, and the old moat also remains. Nearby is another excavation of an abandoned village and a number of Tumulus inside the forest

royal remains
Gurre Slotsruin
Gurrevej 425
nearest address

Arguably the most impressive of the parks ruins, its origins are hazy, but it gained prominence under King Valdemar IV Valdemar Atterdag, who also expanded the castle significantly in 14th century. According the legend he became so attached to it that he "would give up his place in heaven to keep it", something not lost on various Danish poets throughout the ages. The only real visible part remaining is the bast of the main tower, which still rises up to 3 meters above the foundations.

royal remains
Søborg Slotsruin
Bygaden 58, Gilleleje
nearest address

An important locality from the viking age and up to its days as a royal castle from the 12th to the mid 16th century when it was disbanded following the Count's Feud civil war. Many of the stones were used during the construction of Kronborg castle in Elsinore. The moat and ground layout of the old castle is still visible

royal remains
 

While the royal connotations in the parks name mainly refers to the 3 grand royal palaces of Northern Zealand; Kronborg in Elsinore, Fredensborg Slot in Fredensborg and Frederiksborg Slot in Hillerød, these are actually located inside the respective cities, and are as such not part of the national park itself - although they are perfectly feasible to visit as part of an excursion to the park. There are however, also a number of ruins related to the royal history of the lands contained in the park, that relates to the kings of old, though you'd probably need an interest in archeology or history to go out of your way to see these sites.

Other attractions

other attractions
Æbelholt Kloster museum
Æbeltholt 4
+45 4824 3448
May - Oct: 11 - 16 (Monday closed).

The ruins of the largest medieval Augustinian abbey in the Nordic countries. The small museum on the grounds, has exhibitions about the medical history of the Augustinian order, including a garden with medical herbs, and some 300 skeletons on display! Once every year there is a middle age themed market day held, at the grounds around mid June.

other attractions
Esrum Monastery
Klostergade 11, Esrum
''+45'' 48 36 04 00
Free, but DKK for some exhibitions
11am-4pm (only Th-Su in the winter)
North of Esrum lake

This used to be the biggest monastery in Scandinavis. Only a few building remains. Shops, restaurent, and many activities for children