The Dining Hall
Step into the era of absolute monarchy The dining hall is decorated in lavish Baroque style, and with an extraordinary view, it was designed for the absolute monarchs. Today, the hall appears as a time capsule, reflecting the castle's original expression from the 18th century.
Along with the rest of the palace, the Dining Hall underwent extensive restoration, which was completed in 2013. This brought the original hall back to life.
The Hermitage Table
The Hermitage Palace is inextricably linked to the myth of the Hermitage table, although the table no longer exists at the palace. The table, equipped with gears and pulleys, was one of the world's first dumbwaiters, created to transport royal food from the kitchen in the basement up to the Dining Hall. Without any servants present, the king could enjoy his meals in peace and quiet away from the hectic court life in Copenhagen and speak freely with his guests.
Early in the restoration process, which began in 2009, it was discussed whether the whimsical device could be recreated. However, there were no drawings and measurements detailed enough to recreate the table. Additionally, the recreation would require the vestibule on the lower floor to be restored to its original dimensions, and for this reason, the reconstruction of the Hermitage table was abandoned. Without the necessary documentation and measurements from the original palace, this would have been too drastic an intervention in the palace's interior.
Not just a ceiling
When you step into the Dining Hall, you can't help but lean your head back and look up at the magnificent ceiling. Positioned directly above where the Hermitage table once stood, the two monograms gaze down over the hall as an eternal reminder of Christian VI and Queen Sophie Magdalene. Surrounding the absolute monarch and queen's initials are blue skies and clouds, as well as shining golden sun rays.
The ceiling is decorated as a symbol of the absolute monarch's power and the contemporary belief that the king was God's extended arm on earth. Christian VI and Queen Sophie Magdalene will now forever gaze down upon anyone who enters the Dining Hall at the Hermitage Palace. Around the monograms is a decorated stucco ceiling with mirror glass, a decorative material that testified to great wealth at the time.
At the Hermitage Palace, there are several inscriptions on walls and windows. Some of these have been scratched by people who have stayed at the Hermitage Palace in recent times.
Prince Henrik's mark on the Hermitage Palace
In the Dining Room, there are signatures from a person who had a very special relationship with the Hermitage Palace. Prince Henrik was very fond of hunting and nature and was the primary representative of the Royal Family's annual Hubertus Hunt.
The prince has, on several occasions, scratched his name on the windows in the Dining Room. It was not only during official events that Prince Henrik stayed at the Hermitage Palace. Anker Andersen, Prince Henrik's former valet, mentions in his memoirs how Prince Henrik spontaneously liked to spend the night at the Hermitage Palace:
"If Prince Henrik gets an idea, he does not hesitate to carry it out. When the bucks are in rut at the end of summer, he might spend the night at the Hermitage Palace to hear the deer rutting early in the morning."
On these occasions, they would make up a field bed for the prince in front of the fireplace in the Dining Room, and in the morning he would wake up to the many red deer roaring and fighting for the favor of the females.
Take a look at the details
Prince Henrik's signature on the window in the Dining Room
Prince Henrik was very fond of hunting and nature and was the primary representative of the Royal Family's annual Hubertus Hunt. The prince has, on several occasions, scratched his name on the windows in the Dining Room.
Faience tiles with hunting motifs
The tiles resemble Dutch tiles, but they are actually Danish and were made at the faience factory on Store Kongensgade. However, the inspiration came from China, which at that time was the only country that could produce porcelain.
Inscriptions in the windows
If you have sharp eyes, you will be able to spot several inscriptions in the windows of the Hermitage Palace.
The Huntress Goddess's Revenge
The relief in the Dining Room tells the story of the hunter Actaeon, who spies on the huntress Diana while she bathes with her nymphs. To punish the hunter, Diana transforms his head into a deer's head with antlers.