
The Royal Residence in flames
Christiansborg Palace has been built three times after devastating fires
Christiansborg Palace - or rather the palaces and castles that have been built on the site of Christiansborg – has a dramatic story to tell. Two palaces burnt down and their history went up in smoke.
The Christiansborg we see today is the third palace and it
dates from 1928. It was built and laid out in such a way that it could
accommodate the Royal Family, and the two houses of the Danish parliament (the
Folketing and the Landsting). However, Christian X chose not to live there, and
ever since Christiansborg Palace has only been used as the working place for the royal
family, the office of the Danish prime minister and the Danish parliament.
The palace was named after Christian VI who tore down Copenhagen Castle and
built the first Christiansborg in 1740. The splendour of this sumptuous palace
was destroyed just 54 years later in 1794. Only the stable complex survived. It
is still home to the royal horses.
The second Christiansborg was inaugurated in 1828, but another devastating fire destroyed the palace again in 1884. Only the old stable complex and the new palace chapel survived.