On day three of my vacation, I awoke to a scrumptious vegan omelette for breakfast, purchased the evening before at Cafe N (Cafe N ). It came with a side of crusty bread and fresh grapes. It was light and fluffy and oh so tasty!

After enjoying my first meal of the day, I was in a rush for  an early train to the city of Hillerod! The main tourist attraction and reason for my planned visit was the magnificent Fredricksborg Castle! I was really impressed by its grandeur!  The Renaissance castle was built in the 17th century by the Danish King Christian IV. It is known as the “Versailles” of the North!

 

The first room we entered was the dining area. A recreation of a typical meal of the time period set the stage. Several shining armor suites(some were authentic) lined the perimeter.

 

The group took a brief detour to the chapel. What a gorgeously ornate area it is! The gold-trimmed walls, silver pulpits, and beautifully carved wooden organ and other pieces were a sight to behold!

 

Room by room, I walked through dining areas, sleeping chambers, parlors, and meeting halls. Each was more extravagant and elegant than the next. Even the decorative ceilings were designed with murals, paintings, and golden rims.

 

I also encountered rooms filled with portraits of royal family members and nobility of bygone eras.

 

Many furniture pieces and accessories stood out.  An ornate, white and gold clock piece elegantly graced one of the rooms.

 

 

I ventured down into the basement. The long and narrow passageways led to a wine cellar.

 

Upon exiting, I took a walk behind the castle to see how it is perched on an isle surrounded by a lake. Gardens encompass the rear of the castle also. What an amazing afternoon I had at this opulent castle!

 

The train ride heading back to Copenhagen would be about 40 minutes, so I brought along a vegan candy bar to munch. It satisfied my hunger, as a tasty snack!

 

My first stop back  in Copenhagen was Rosenborg Castle. It closes early at 2pm during winter, so it was basically a photo stop for me. This is where the Danish crown jewels are kept.

 

 

I was able to visit Amelienborg Palace further up the road, since it remained opened longer during the day. It was constructed by King Frederick V during the 18th century for the 300th anniversary of the coronation of King Christian I. The Royal Guards kept watch in front of each of the four palace facades on site. It is now the royal couples winter residence.

 

The first room encountered was the library with it’s decoratively carved wooden furniture.

 

A couple of glass window displays showcased actual furniture and belongings from the time period of the royal families that lived in the palaces during the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.

 

I encountered many display cases that showcased gifts that the royal family members gave to their spouses and received from dignitaries for holidays, anniversaries, and other special occasions. Royal ribbons and medals of honor displayed in many of the rooms.

 

 

 

When I exited the building, my eyes were struck my the beauty of the church across the square.

 

I walked by the picturesque Nyhavn harbor next with its colorful array of shops and restaurants. My stop was at address number#20. This is where Hans Christian Andersen lived for while , as an adult. A commemorative plaque hangs about the entrance door.

 Next to his home, a Hans Christian Andersen gift shop caught my eye! It was filled with H.C. souvenirs and other Nyhavn items. A lively mechanical H.C. Andersen statue turned from side to side, as he glanced upon one of his own fairy tale storybooks!

 

It was time for a late lunch at this point, so I headed over to a vegan, raw food restaurant called Simply Raw (Simply Raw ). I started off with a hot chocolate beverage. It was so delicious and perfect for a winter day!

 

My main meal was a typical Danish “Smorgasbord”: an open-faced sandwich of lentil burgers with sliced cucumbers and lettuce on a raw grain bread. It was delicious!

 

For dessert, I opted for their infamous cheesecake trio. Mini-slices of vegan cheesecakes in raspberry, chocolate, and citrus graced my dessert plate. They were absolutely divine! I highly recommend this restaurant for any visitors to Copenhagen! Your taste buds will thank you!

 

 

It was time to do some more shopping and sightseeing.  I went down to the Stroget pedestrian outdoor mall. It was fun hopping into several different shops to look at local souvenir goods.

 

Copenhagen has a famous “Round Tower” with an observatory deck that offers a glorious view of the city. The tower was built during the 17th century as an astronomical observatory. It is closed during the winter months. Nevertheless, I stopped by for a glance of the structure.

 

 

After my stroll about town, it was time for dinner! RizRaz (Riz Raz) is a popular restaurant that offers an buffet that goes late into the evening. They are very vegetarian and vegan-friendly!

 

For my dinner, I selected several buffet items including broccoli, yellow rice, pilaf with tomato sauces, lentils, falafel, and herb potatoes. Everything was amazing! This was comfort food!

 

Time had arrived to return back to my hostel. This was my last night in Denmark. I went to sleep with happy thoughts of my fulfilling day and yummy vegan meals!