Journal no. 3

 Frederiksborg Castle

okay. this castle and its grounds are seriously so pretty and wonderful, i feel like i need to tell people to skip Kronberg and spend the day at Frederiksborg instead.

because i didn't think Frederiksborg was going to be anything great, i didn't research the transport from Helsingor to Hillerod properly. we ended up taking a long train journey and reached Frederiksborg at the castle closing time.
but luckily, the gardens were still open!

but first, check out this cute little H+ van in Helsingor!
what's H+? i don't know.

we took this wide-view train from Helsingor to Hillerod.
the journey itself was very scenic, passing through leafy forests where you can imagine the train honks were for warning deer to keep away from the tracks.
but it was sooo long, like 2 hours?
we fell asleep.

then we had to take a bus to the Castle.
the nice bus driver told us to alight since we weren't sure where it was.
here's the exterior, surrounded by a moat.

something about the red brick and little walkways and bridges made it so charming and romantic, even before we saw the actual castle.

and there it was!
what a beauty!
Frederiksborg Castle was built in a Renaissance style in the 1600s, with turrets and wings added on in the later periods.

a very enchanting fountain in the main square.

lots of ornate sculptures.

the castle was closed at 5pm so we couldn't go in.
boohoo.

something different.
i'm glad i found you.
so pretty.

luckily, i remembered something about a garden in the castle grounds.
otherwise we would have made a wasted trip.

on the left side was a walkway that went along this moat and a gate mini-tower.

another view of the castle.

detail from the gate.

a glorious Baroque garden!

the French Baroque style of gardening is to control nature and have lots of surprising elements in it.
i was seriously in awe of the amazing neatness of the little shrubs that have been cropped so immaculately.

so so pretty...

water feature running down the middle.

these little shrubs ... just so cute.

just so gorgeous!