Danish Luxury

Museums Royal castles

Marselisborg Palace

The Danish royal family's summer residence in Aarhus, built 1899–1902 by Hack Kampmann, whose 13-hectare park opens to the public when the family is away.

Founded
1902
Address
Aarhus

Visit kongehuset.dk

The white palace across the lawn, the flag raised
The white palace across the lawn, the flag raised
Roses around the copper-roofed spire Villa Margarinely
Roses around the copper-roofed spire Villa Margarinely
Nicolas Lavarenne's bronze ferryman in a lily pond
Nicolas Lavarenne's bronze ferryman in a lily pond

Pictures © Marselisborg Palace, from kongehuset.dk.

Why it is renowned

VisitDenmark, the national tourist board, names Marselisborg among the castles to visit in Denmark and calls it the royal family's summer and Christmas residence.1 Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik used it as their summer home from 1967, and the family still stays there in summer and over Easter and Christmas.23 The palace itself stays closed, but its park, with a rose park, a herb garden and works of art, is open whenever the family is not in residence.2 While the King is there, the Royal Life Guard changes the guard at noon.2

The story

The name goes back to the Dutch merchant Gabriel Marselis, who acquired part of the crown land in Jutland from Frederik III in 1661; his son Constantin made it the barony of Marselisborg.2 The city of Aarhus bought what was left of the estate in 1896, and the old manor house has since disappeared.23 When Prince Christian, later Christian X, became engaged to Princess Alexandrine in 1897, a nationwide collection was raised to give the couple a summer palace in Jutland, and Aarhus offered part of the Marselisborg land free of charge.2 Hack Kampmann, the Royal Inspector of Listed State Buildings, designed the palace, built from 1899 to 1902.2 Jutland towns such as Vejle, Horsens, Randers and Aalborg helped furnish it, and their coats of arms appear throughout the building.3 In 1967 Frederik IX gave the use of the palace to Princess Margrethe and Prince Henrik, who modernised it with the wedding gift they had received from the Danish people.2 The landscape gardener L. Chr. Diederichsen laid out the park with Queen Alexandrine in the early 1900s, in the English style of wide lawns, trees and small lakes.2

What to know it by

  • The palace21902Hack KampmannSummer palace given by public collection, built 1899–1902
  • The Palace Garden2L. Chr. DiederichsenAbout 13 hectares in the English style, with a rose park and herb garden
  • Grand Passeur21994Nicolas LavarenneSix-metre bronze ferryman standing in a lake
  • Marcelisa21996Miguel BerrocalBronze-patinated figure on a glass pedestal facing the bay
  • The Marselisborg Jar21999Peter BrandesA jar 4.78 metres high, weighing 6.5 tonnes
Sources
  1. 12 castles you should visit in Denmark, VisitDenmark. visitdenmark.com, read 30 September 2026.
  2. Marselisborg Palace, The Danish Royal House. kongehuset.dk, read 30 September 2026.
  3. Marselisborg Palace, Wikipedia. en.wikipedia.org, read 30 September 2026.

Last checked 30 September 2026, against the maker's own pages.