Kronborg was not just a fine defense - it was the most exclusive banquet hall in the Nordic region. Here kings toasted, danced until dawn and showed off their power.

From the wild preparations and sumptuous meals to the hangover the next day. Our new FEST experience takes you through nine spectacular rooms that give you a taste of what it was like to party like a Renaissance king.

Welcome to the 17th century VIP party

Forget boring gatherings - the kings' parties were a cornucopia of lavish dinners, wild dances, flashy costumes and fireworks shows that could be seen for miles around. For Frederick II and Christian IV, a party was not just a party. It was a show of power, a spectacle, a statement: I am the greatest, richest and most powerful king in Europe.

Does the party look familiar?

Discover the drinking culture, party dress, scandalous antics and the brutal reality behind the glamorous parties of the time. And you'll soon discover that we still party in many of the same ways today - who doesn't know the feeling of worrying about the seating plan, dress code or what you actually said after the last toast?

Toasts and gun salutes

It was literally fired at the king's parties. Every time the king raised his glass, the cannons would respond by firing across the strait. The stories reverberated throughout Europe and inspired Shakespeare, among others, to write the dramatic tale of the Danish prince "Hamlet".

Learn more about the parties with Our Time

Kronborg was built by King Frederik II as a fortress and a magnificent castle. Listen to the episode as we dive into the preserved sources that tell us about the famous cannon bowls, where the castle's heavy artillery was fired every time the Danish king raised his glass and made a toast.

Listen to the full episode: Secrets of Kronborg