Sunday - Is it only day 2???

After a slower start due to the need to keep people up to date via a blog post, I headed off to Christiansborg Palace which was duly impressive in its commanding facade and formal reception rooms. The really interesting bits were the missing palaces and other castles that were torn down or burned. The current Palace is the third one, built in 1907 after the previous one burned down in the 1880s. Both the one that burned down in the 1790s, before they had finished decorating, and the later one seemed to be victims of clogged flues. While the 1880s casualty had fire doors etc, apparently the fire brigade didn't know how to use them.

The Great Hall has modern colourful tapestries depicting Danish history.

Now, that's a library

When they built the most recent palace, they found traces of the earlier buildings. People were fascinated and the government decided to keep them for viewing - a pretty enlightened approach for the time, I think. They were quite fascinating, especially the medieval poop shutes and wells still with water, but it goes for quite a long, dark, low-ceilinged, winding way and I was quite happy to get to the end as I was a bit turned around and discombobulated.

Went to 'Wok On' for lunch across from the palace near the statue of the bishop who built the first castle on the site in the 12th century. Do not, if in Copenhagen, arrange to meet 'near the bronze statue of the guy on a horse'. They are everywhere. The bishop was literally a Christian soldier, fighting and burning pagan settlements.

Glad to see punny naming continues across the globe. Forgot I had chahan at wagamama at tivolis last night and ordered brown fried rice - tastier and half the price. But no more rice for a while.

Visited the Palace stables and viewed the state coaches. The stables are a relic from the 18th century and feature marble pillars. The 14 horses are in nice digs, especially as they now have modified stalls that allow them freedom of movement - the original stalls were half the size and had the horses tied.

The horses' palace

Moved onto the Danish Design Museum. I didn't end up taking any photos except of the lamp I covet. Just about every iconic Danish chair was represented and the exhibitions had some beautiful things, including delicate glassware and beautifully crafted cabinetry, but I was expecting a bigger collection and there was not much contemporary design represented. My favourite section was the art nouveau. There were just some sublime pieces there.

On, then, to the Kastellet, which is a fort and barracks established in the 17th century that is still in use. It is within star-shaped ramparts and the setting is lovely. There is also a windmill.

The moat and ramparts of the Kastellet

In the park leading to the Kastellet

The King's Park

Hans Christian A in the King's Park

 

Then, because it is me and I'll sightsee till I drop, onto the Round Tower, in which there was an exhibition on the history of tattooing in the city. The tower has a cobbled ramp up most of the way to the top, with a narrow twisted set of stairs just at the very top.

On the way up in the Round Tower

Part of the view from the Tower

A weary but satisfied walk through light rain on the shiny cobblestones back to the hotel for a rest up before tomorrow's excursion out of the city.