Kronborg Castle: A UNESCO World Heritage Site Located in a strategic area between Denmark and Sweden, Helsingør, Denmark was an important site that has existed since1420. Kronborg Castle is located north of Elsinore on a strategic site that controls the Sound (Øresund). Between the 16th‐18th centuries, the Danes played an important role in the history of northern Europe. This Renaissance castle was started in 1574. Its defenses were reinforced in the late 17th century. ‐unesco.org Eric of Pomerania built the first castle, the “Krogen” at this site. In 1574, King Frederik II began to construct the current castle with fortification. A fire in 1629 took place. It was reconstructed in the same design of the 1574 castle. ‐unesco.org At one time ships passing into the Baltic Sea paid tolls at Kronborg Castle and Helsingør. History tells us that 1.8 million ships passed through the Sound during the period 1429 to 1857. Kronborg was Denmark’s military fortress and used it to create alliances.‐unesco.org A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000, it has also become famous for the belief that Shakespeare referred to the castle as Castle Elsinore when writing Hamlet. Whether or not this is true, Kronborg Castle has become a drawing place for the Shakespeare Festival. International companies perform here, including the Royal Shakespeare Company. Given the short time we had to visit Kronborg, we did not get an opportunity to explore its crypts and catacombs. We understand we missed Helsingør’s Holger the Dane (Holger Dansk). A stone statue that legend says, “if Denmark is ever in trouble, he’ll wake from his rock throne under Helsingør and defend her.” ‐ visitdenmark.com Hans Christian Anderson wrote in ‘Holger the Dane’, “In Denmark lies an old castle … and deep down in its cellar sits Holger the Dane. In his dreams he sees everything that is happening in all of Denmark.” ‐ atlasobscura.com Sources: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/696 , https://www.visitdenmark.com/north‐zealand/attractions/kronborg‐castle‐home‐shakespeares‐ hamlet, http://kongeligeslotte.dk/en/palaces‐and‐gardens/kronborg‐castle.html, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/kronborg‐castle‐elsinore, https://www.lonelyplanet.com/denmark/helsingor/attractions/kronborg‐slot/a/poi‐sig/1185972/358863 and https://www.cphmuseums.com/copenhagen/kronborg‐castle‐0. acuri.net John R. Vincenti Kronborg Castle: Once Denmark’s Source of Power