Frederiksborg Castle Gardens

Royal landscape framing a Renaissance island castle

The Frederiksborg Castle Gardens form a grand green frame around one of Denmark’s most dramatic castles, set on islands in the Castle Lake at Hillerød. From almost anywhere in the grounds, views pull your eye back to red-brick spires, copper roofs and mirror-still water, creating a near-theatrical backdrop for a walk. The gardens are not just an add-on to the castle; they were conceived as an essential finishing touch, extending its power and splendour into the landscape. You enter a world shaped by centuries of royal ambition. Christian IV had his own earlier garden here, but the layout you see today was largely defined in the early 18th century and then painstakingly brought back to life in the late 20th century. The result is a rare opportunity to wander through two distinct garden philosophies in a single visit.

Baroque terraces, cascades and royal monograms

On the castle’s axial line, the Baroque Garden announces itself with strict symmetry, clipped hedges and a powerful central cascade stepping down towards the lake. Designed in the 1720s by royal gardener J. Krieger for Frederik IV, it follows the Baroque ideal of demonstrating human control over nature: straight avenues, geometric parterres and carefully disciplined trees all work together to create a sense of order. The garden is laid out on four descending terraces. From the upper levels you can look down over ornamental beds and pools that form intricate patterns. On the lowest plateaus, box-edged parterres shape the monograms of four monarchs—Frederik IV, Christian VI, Frederik V and Queen Margrethe II—linking the original creation and the 1990s restoration in living greenery. When the cascade and fountains are running from spring through autumn, water and light animate the strict geometry.

Romantic woodland paths and the Bathhouse Castle

In deliberate contrast, the romantic landscape garden stretches to the side of the Baroque axis. Here, straight lines soften into curving paths, shrubberies and irregular tree plantings. Small lakes and meadows invite slower wandering, with views opening and closing as you move, rather than being presented in a single formal vista. Hidden among the trees stands the small Bathhouse Castle, dating back to the late 16th century. This miniature building beside the water once served as a pleasure retreat and today adds a fairy-tale touch to the scene. The romantic section was created to evoke moods rather than impress with power: reflections on still water, rustling leaves, and glimpses of the big castle through branches all create a more intimate atmosphere.

Seasonal moods and everyday escapes

Because much of the gardens are freely accessible all year, they function as both royal showpiece and local green refuge. In spring, the terraces and borders come alive with fresh foliage and the first flowers, while the cascades and fountain return to life. Summer highlights the precise structure of the Baroque parterres, their patterns etched in green against bright sky. Autumn brings fiery colours to the romantic woodland, with drifting leaves carpeting paths and lakesides. Even in winter, the skeletal geometry of hedges and the sharp outline of the terraces against a dusting of frost or snow reveal the underlying design. Throughout the year, lawns and more secluded corners lend themselves to picnics, quiet reading, or simply watching the changing light on the castle.

Exploring on foot, by lake and with a deeper lens

Most visitors explore the gardens on foot, tracing the main axis for classic castle views before meandering into the more naturalistic sections. Gently sloping paths and broad gravel avenues make it easy to choose either a short circuit or a longer ramble. Photography opportunities are constant: reflections in the lake, the powerful perspective from the head of the cascade, or close-ups of carefully clipped greenery. In the warmer months, a small ferry crosses the Castle Lake, linking town, castle and the Baroque Garden. Seen from the water, the terraces and façades line up in dramatic layers. Near the garden café, an exhibition model explains the Baroque layout and restoration in miniature, adding context to what you see outside. Combined with a visit inside Frederiksborg Castle and its Museum of National History, the gardens complete a rich day of Danish history, art and landscape design.