The Danish Parliament at Christiansborg Palace

A Palace Where Power Still Lives

Christiansborg Palace is far more than a photogenic backdrop to Copenhagen’s skyline: it is the working seat of the Danish Parliament, known as the Folketing. Within its heavy granite walls, laws are debated, governments are formed and prime ministers address the nation, all beneath a tower crowned with three royal crowns symbolising the long intertwining of monarchy and state. The great staircases, colonnades and courtyards set a formal tone, yet this is very much a living workplace where the rhythms of modern democracy unfold day after day. The palace stands on Slotsholmen, often dubbed Denmark’s “Island of Power”. Here the legislative chamber, committee rooms and offices sit alongside the Supreme Court and the Prime Minister’s offices, creating an unusually concentrated centre of authority. Visitors who join guided tours step straight into this world, passing security into corridors lined with portraits and documents that chart political life from absolute monarchy to a constitutional, representative system.

Centuries of Rule Beneath Your Feet

Although the present palace dates from the early 20th century, the site’s story reaches back to the 1100s, when Bishop Absalon raised a fortress on this tiny island. That stronghold was succeeded by Copenhagen Castle and later by successive Christiansborg palaces, two of which were destroyed by catastrophic fires in 1794 and 1884. Each disaster left layers of masonry and memory that still lie beneath the building you see today. Below the parliament, archaeological ruins reveal the remains of Absalon’s ring wall and Copenhagen Castle. Walking among the foundations, you trace the evolution from medieval stronghold to royal residence and finally to democratic institution. Above ground, fragments from earlier palaces survive in the riding school, show grounds and chapel, allowing you to read the building as a vertical timeline from the Middle Ages to the present.

Architecture That Speaks of Authority

The current Christiansborg, completed in 1928 to designs by Thorvald Jørgensen, is a monumental exercise in neo‑Baroque historicism. Its broad façades, tall segmental windows and emphatic tower were conceived to project solidity after decades of political debate and rebuilding. Granite cladding, heavy cornices and sculptural details lend the complex a gravitas that befits a national centre of power. Look closely and you can see how different eras leave their mark. The palace chapel, rebuilt in the 1820s, is a study in clear neoclassical lines, while the showgrounds and stables echo 18th‑century Baroque. Inside the parliamentary wing, however, the tone is more restrained: high but functional ceilings, wood panelling and disciplined ornament reflect early‑20th‑century ideals of efficient governance tempered by respect for tradition.

Royal Ceremonies Within a Democratic House

Unusually, the Danish Parliament shares the building with the Royal Reception Rooms, still used for state banquets, official dinners and the New Year levee. In these gilded suites, towering mirrors, glittering chandeliers and elaborate stucco set a courtly stage for modern constitutional monarchy. The Great Hall, lined with colourful tapestries narrating a thousand years of Danish history, forms a vivid counterpart to the sober parliamentary chamber nearby. This cohabitation of politicians and palace ceremonies gives Christiansborg a distinctive atmosphere. On some days, red carpets and uniforms mingle with business suits and briefcases; on others, the focus is firmly on committee work and legislative detail. For visitors, it offers a concise lesson in how Denmark has evolved from royal power to a balanced relationship between crown and elected representatives.

Experiencing the Seat of Danish Democracy

As a visitor, you can explore selected areas on guided tours that may include the parliamentary chamber, public galleries and halls where parties negotiate and press conferences are held. From the public seating above the chamber, the layout of desks, speaker’s rostrum and electronic voting panels becomes clear, turning abstract news headlines into a tangible space. Outside formal spaces, the tower offers sweeping views over Copenhagen’s rooftops, while the courtyards and arcades give quieter glimpses of daily routines, from TV crews setting up outside to civil servants hurrying between meetings. Taken together, the Danish Parliament at Christiansborg offers a rare chance to see, in one complex, the layered story of power in Denmark: fortified castle, royal palace and, today, an open, working democracy.