Absalon's Castle

Facts

A castle in the basement

By Vivian Etting, Museumsinspektør og seniorforsker på Nationalmuseet (28 stories)

Deep under Christiansborg Castle are the ruins of another castle built almost 850 years ago. It was built for Bishop Absalon, who was given Copenhagen by King Valdemar the Great in about 1167. The castle remained right up until 1369, when it was destroyed during a war with the German Hanseatic towns. An outer wall of about 53 metres in diameter surrounded the castle and some parts measuring up to 2.5 metres in height have been preserved in some places with the rough-hewn limestone covering it. You can see the remains of houses inside the ancient castle courtyard and a round oven. Fragments of columns probably come from the castle chapel.

Partly a public place

Selected entry

Absalon – bishop and warrior

Story written by Vivian Etting

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Absalon (circa 1128-1201) is a leading light in Denmark's history. He belonged to the Hvide family and grew up in Fjenneslev together with his brother Esbern Snare and adopted brother Valdemar, who later became King. While still very young, he was sent to Paris to study, and was elected bishop of Roskilde at only 30 years old. Later, Absalon became leader of the crusades against the Wends, which ended when Rügen was captured in 1169. In 1177, he was elected Archbishop of Lund - the highest clerical position in Scandinavia. After his death in 1201, Absalon was buried in Sorø Abbey Church.