Helsingor Attractions
Zealand
The old Danish port and trading town of Helsingør (more familiar in English as Hamlet's "Elsinore") lies in the northeast of the island of Zealand, only 4.5 km/3 mi from the Swedish town of Helsingborg on the other side of the Oresund; a bridge is planned.
History
The origins of the town can be traced back to the first half of the 13th C. After the Norwegians had burned down the settlement in 1288 King Eric of Pomerania began, in 1420, to build a new castle on the outermost spit of land; this castle was called "Krogen" or "Ørekrog". In 1426 the town was granted its charter. Eric introduced tolls for vessels passing through the Oresund; both banks of the channel then belonged to Denmark and every ship which sailed through the Sound had to pay a toll accordingly. The King made the town an ecclesiastical center and three monasteries were founded. When in 1658 the easterly provinces of the country (Schonen, etc.) fell to Sweden, Helsingor lost much of its former importance.
During the 17th C. several epidemics led to a decline in population. At the end of the 18th C. English and Scottish merchants settled in Helsingor; the town obtained a land link with Copenhagen. In 1857 tolls in the Sound were abolished. Since the end of the 19th C. many holiday villas have sprung up between Helsingor and Copenhagen and tourism has benefited the town considerably.
Economy
Helsingor possesses a shipyard as well as engineering and textile industries. A rail ferry plies across the Øresund to Helsingborg.
The town
The town is divided into an inner district, a northwestern and a northeastern area where, on a peninsula, stands Kronborg Castle.
The old Danish port and trading town of Helsingør (more familiar in English as Hamlet's "Elsinore") lies in the northeast of the island of Zealand, only 4.5 km/3 mi from the Swedish town of Helsingborg on the other side of the Oresund; a bridge is planned.
History
The origins of the town can be traced back to the first half of the 13th C. After the Norwegians had burned down the settlement in 1288 King Eric of Pomerania began, in 1420, to build a new castle on the outermost spit of land; this castle was called "Krogen" or "Ørekrog". In 1426 the town was granted its charter. Eric introduced tolls for vessels passing through the Oresund; both banks of the channel then belonged to Denmark and every ship which sailed through the Sound had to pay a toll accordingly. The King made the town an ecclesiastical center and three monasteries were founded. When in 1658 the easterly provinces of the country (Schonen, etc.) fell to Sweden, Helsingor lost much of its former importance.
During the 17th C. several epidemics led to a decline in population. At the end of the 18th C. English and Scottish merchants settled in Helsingor; the town obtained a land link with Copenhagen. In 1857 tolls in the Sound were abolished. Since the end of the 19th C. many holiday villas have sprung up between Helsingor and Copenhagen and tourism has benefited the town considerably.
Economy
Helsingor possesses a shipyard as well as engineering and textile industries. A rail ferry plies across the Øresund to Helsingborg.
The town
The town is divided into an inner district, a northwestern and a northeastern area where, on a peninsula, stands Kronborg Castle.
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Kronborg Castle
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the imposing Kronborg Castle is a well known landmark of Helsingor. The Castle is famed for its distinctly renaissance interior and German woodcarvings.
Axeltorv
Axeltorv, to the west of Skt. Anna Gade, is the hub of Helsingor. Note the fountain by Einar Utzon-Frank (1926) erected in memory of King Eric of Pomerania who gave Helsingor its charter. A market is held in Axeltorv on Wednesdays and Sundays, and from May to October there is also an antique market each Friday.
Helsingør Municipal Museum
The Helsingør Municipal Museum (Bymuseum) is housed in the former poorhouse near the monastery. Here can be seen historical documents, a model of the town dating from 1801, and a doll collection.
Helsingør Town Hall
To the northeast of Harbor Square lies Stengade, the main street of Helsingør and the main artery of a pedestrian zone. The street is lined with fine old houses. The Town Hall (1855) has glass mosaics in the Council Chamber with motifs depicting the town's history; they date from 1936-9 and are by Poul and Fanny Sæbye. On Strandgade, which marks the eastern edge of the pedestrian zone, more beautiful houses are to be seen, including the Old Pharmacy (1577 and 1642) at Nos. 77-79 and the Court Building (1520) at Nos. 72-74.
Hotel Marienlyst
The Hotel Marienlyst is a turn of the 20th century, four star hotel close to the center of Elsinore. It is known for its impressive view of the Kronborg Castle and for its location near the Øresund. The hotel is also located in close proximity to the forest, the marina, and the medieval centre of Elsinore. Elsinore offers shopping and nice cafés in the old streets and alleys.
Inner Town
The railroad station, post office and tourist information office of Helsingør lie opposite the terminal of the Danish Railways ferry. North of the railway station lies Harbor Square with the Swedish Pillar (Danish "Sveasojlen"); 11.75m/39ft high, it was erected in 1947 as an expression of gratitude to Sweden for taking in Danish refugees in the Second World War. Many of these refugees were able to flee across the Øresund.
Mansion of Marienlyst
From Axeltorv in Helsingør proceed in a northwesterly direction through Nygade and Marienlyst Allé to the Mansion of Marienlyst. Originally built in 1587 and conceived as an observation pavilion overlooking the Sound, it was reconstructed about 1760 by Nicolas Henri Jardin for Queen Juliane Marie, the widow of Frederik V. Today the mansion, surrounded by a park, serves as a museum with Louis XVI furniture, views of the town, etc. In the park can be seen a commemorative grave for the Danish Prince Hamlet, a granite sarcophagus by the sculptor Einar Utzon-Frank and erected here in 1926.
St Mary Church
Well worth seeing is St Mary's Church, about 150m/165yd north of St Olaf's Church in the center of Helsingør, in Skt. Anna Gade. Built in the Late Middle Ages, the church boasts a fine interior and a magnificent organ. The composer Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707) was organist here between 1660 and 1668 and lived at Skt. Anna Gade 6. St Mary's Church forms the south wing of a Carmelite monastery, built about 1430 and later restored. The courtyard, enclosed on all sides by open arcades, the church and the chapter house are the venues for concerts and lectures.
St Olaf's Church
St. Olaf's Church in Helsingør, a Late Gothic brick edifice, was completed 1480-1559. Note the remains of its Romanesque predecessor, the Baptistery with paintings by Joakim Skovgaard, the Chapel of the Holy Trinity and numerous epitaphs. The church has been a cathedral since 1961.
Veteran Railroad
On Sundays between June and September old-fashioned trains ply between Grønnehavevej on the North Harbor (Nordhavnen) of Helsingør and Gilleje, a distance of 24 km/15 mi.
Hours
June 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | |
| Close |
Øresund Aquarium
On Helsingør's Strandpromenaden lies the Øresund Aquarium, with 10 types of marine animals found in the Sound. Their biosphere includes sand-flats, a rocky reef, the wreck of a sunken galleon and mud from the deepest part of the Sound.
It has a tank where visitors can touch and hold a variety of marine animals including star fish, shellfish and sea urchins.
It has a tank where visitors can touch and hold a variety of marine animals including star fish, shellfish and sea urchins.
Øresund Aquarium
Strandpromenaden 5
Grønnehave
DK-3000 Helsingør
Denmark
Strandpromenaden 5
Grønnehave
DK-3000 Helsingør
Denmark
Hours
May 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
June 1 to August 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
September 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 12:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Helsingor Surroundings
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Fredensborg - Castle, Denmark
Exuding a typically Italian Baroque architectural style, Fredensborg Castle serves as a seasonal residence for the Danish Royal Family. Visitors can watch the Guard Changing ceremony daily at noon.
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Humlebæk - Louisiana Museum for Modern Art
The Louisiana Museum for Modern Art contains an impressive collection of modern paintings by well known Danish and international artists. There is also an exceptional sculpture garden.
