The Danish Royals are one of a few European Royal Courts that still have fully operational Royal Stables.  The Royal stables in Copenhagen, Denmark have been in existence since the 1740s and during the heyday, there were over 270 horses stabled here.  Today they only have 20 horses kept at the Royal Stables at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen.

Where are the Royal stables located?

The Royal Stables are located at Christiansborg Palace in central Copenhagen the capital of Denmark.

What are the Royal horses used for?

The Danish Royal Stables still use horses today to draw royal carriages for ceremonial and gala events.

The horses are exercised daily for at least an hour and the carriage horses are also driven through the streets of Copenhagen without passengers for exercise and to train them to get used to noise and the traffic.

If you are visiting Copenhagen, you might be lucky to see the horses being exercised, if you go behind the Palace where the arena is, or see horses being driven around the streets of Copenhagen familiarising them with traffic.

What types of horses are used in the stables?

The Royal stables house 20 horses with 12 used specifically as carriage horses.  The carriage horses are the beautiful white Kladrubers which have been imported from the National Horse Stud in the Czech Republic Kladruby nad Labem. These horses are known for their noble stature, wonderful temperament, and high-stepping knee action. The horses have been used in Royal circles for centuries to pull the carriages of European Royals. The stable also has Danish warmbloods used for various purposes.

Can you visit the Royal Stables of Copenhagen?

The stables are open to the general public daily from: 13.30 – 16.00 except Mondays. (October – April.) Guided tours of the stable area are offered in English on Saturdays from 14:00 pm and in Danish on Sundays from 14:00 pm.  You can book online and it is recommended you prebook and confirm beforehand as details may change.
Website: https://kongeligeslotte.dk/da/slotte-og-haver/christiansborg-slot.html
Note:  All the horses are away over the summer from mid-June to mid-August in North Zealand on grass. Although it is still possible to see and experience the stable area, carriages and harness collection.  Occasionally the Castle may close due to the Royal House’s use of the Palace. Always check the day’s opening hours before your visit.

What can you see at the Royal Stables?

You will see a fully functional stable with approx. 20 horses.  When you visit the stables, you will see the stables where the horses are kept as well as have the opportunity to visit the royal carriage museum.

The Royal stables house a collection of historical royal carriages with some dating back as far as 1778.  The most famous carriage in the collection is the Gold Carriage dating back to 1840.  The carriage is plated with 24-carat gold leaf with four gilded crowns on the roof and the national coat of arms on the door.  This carriage is still in use by Queen Margrethe II today.  Not only does the museum house many elaborate carriages but also royal soldiers’ uniforms, harnesses and historical memorabilia from centuries old.

Address:
Den Kongelige Stald-Etat
Christiansborg Ridebane 12
Christiansborg Slot
1218 København K.

What other tourist places are worth exploring in Copenhagen?

Copenhagen is a vibrant city full of lovely historical buildings, beautiful parks, and gardens as well as many canals.  My recommendation is to pre-book a guided walking tour in Copenhagen with a knowledgeable guide or take the hop-on hop-off bus to get orientated with this magnificent city.

One of my favourite places to visit is Nyhavn.  The Nyhavn area is lined with brightly coloured houses from the 17th and early 18th centuries it has been known as the entertainment district.  There are many trendy indoor and outdoor restaurants and bars which face the canal lined with lovely historical wooden ships.

You must also visit Amalienborg Palace where the Danish Royals presently reside and if you time it right you might see the Changing of the Guards.

The Little Mermaid is a popular landmark from Hans Christian Andersen’s story near Copenhagen harbour.  Approx. a 20-minute walk from the Nyhavn area or the hop-on hop-off bus has a stop here too.

Rosenborg Palace and Museum and the many beautiful parks in and around Copenhagen are also worth a mention.

If you are looking for an easy day trip from Copenhagen, a visit to UNESCO listed Kronborg Castle in Helsingor is worthwhile. The magnificent castle is built in the renaissance style from 1574 to protect Denmark from Sweden.  To get to Kronborg castle take the train (45 minutes) from central Copenhagen to Helsingør (Elsinore) and then it’s a further 15-minute walk to the castle.

Another recommendation is the stunning Frederiksborg Palace with its large formal garden, housing the largest collection of portrait paintings in Denmark. Taking just 42 minutes by train from central Copenhagen to Hillerod and a 20-minute walk or short taxi ride to the entrance.

If you want to visit Denmark and would like more information, please contact Snaffle Travel at info@snaffletravel.com.au