Frederiksberg: Palace, Parks and Unusual Art Spaces

Frederiksberg Palace was built from 1699 to 1735 and served intermittently as the royal family’s summer residence until the mid-19th century. Frederiksberg Church is an octagonal church designed by Felix Dusart and built from 1732 to 1734.

The regional context within the Capital Region also includes Brøndby Municipality, Albertslund, Tårnby Municipality, Copenhagen, Rudersdal Municipality, Fredensborg, Helsingør and Hørsholm Municipality.

Culture and History

Frederiksberg Palace is normally closed; however, guided tours take place on the last Saturday of every month except July and December, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. These tours include the Knights’ Hall, the Flag Balcony, the Marble Bathroom and the Baroque church. Frederiksberg Church is also used for concerts.

STORM offers insights into the significance of Danish humour and satire, both then and now. Møstings presents changing exhibitions of contemporary art in a classic old villa in Frederiksberg at one entrance to Frederiksberg Gardens. The walks organised by the Frederiksberg City Archives convey the history of Frederiksberg through texts, audio or with an archivist.

Bakkehuset offers changing exhibitions and readings, and also organises workshops, lectures and long-table dinners. Tours of Frederiksberg City Hall include the council chamber, the wedding hall and the 60-metre-high City Hall tower.

Art

Cisternerne is located in Copenhagen’s former water reservoirs beneath the green area of Søndermarken park, opposite Frederiksberg Palace. The facility reopened in 2013 as an exhibition venue for site-specific art experiences and is an underground space for contemporary art. Cisternerne is situated on Frederiksberg Hill, 31 metres above sea level.

The Lydbrøndene consist of 32 speakers hidden beneath the square and serve as a stage for music, podcasts and site-specific sound experiences.

Nature

At the Haveselskabets Have, visitors can see the lawn and a reflecting pool and sit on numerous benches; the garden is open to everyone. Haveselskabets Have is divided into many smaller garden rooms, each with its own character, offering peaceful places for relaxation and reflection.

Frederiksberg Gardens is the third-largest park in Copenhagen. It is home to a colony of relatively tame grey herons. Frederiksberg Gardens offers a view of Norman Foster’s Elephant House at the ZOO.

Active

A cycling map created by Frederiksberg and Wonderful Copenhagen includes three routes for exploring Frederiksberg by bicycle. The Frederiksberg routes comprise three routes measuring 3, 5 and 10 kilometres, with wide paths and comfortable surfaces. They pass outdoor strength-training areas and offer opportunities for challenging hill runs and sprints.

During a historical tour of a cemetery in Frederiksberg, visitors can see the graves of Adam Oehlenschläger, Kamma and Knud Lyne Rahbek, Anders Sandøe Ørsted and other well-known Danes. The different route lengths can be clearly compared and incorporated into your own daily planning.

Experiences

At the ZOO’s Children’s Zoo, families can see pigs, horses, llamas and cows up close. At the ZOO, visitors can experience animals from all over the world and learn more about nature and conservation through activities and educational programmes. The ZOO can be reached by train to Valby Station or by metro to Fasanvej or Frederiksberg Allé.

Food and Drink

Bakkehuset’s Orangery serves coffee with homemade rolls and croissants from its own bakery. From Easter to September, the museum’s lunch restaurant serves Danish smørrebrød inspired by dishes from Denmark’s Golden Age.

To the higher-level travel overview: Capital Region.