The original table mechanism allowed the King to dine in private, as the table ascended through a trapdoor in the floor.
The lodge was intentionally built on the highest point in Dyrehaven to provide a panoramic view of the royal hunt.
It is one of the few buildings from the period designed specifically for social dining rather than permanent royal residence.
The building was designed to accommodate the 'hunt of the season' for King Christian VI.
The interior ceiling remains decorated with the original 1730s stuccowork.
The name refers to the 'hermit' nature of the dining experience, isolating guests from servants.
The Hermitage Palace (Eremitageslottet) is an 18th-century hunting lodge situated on a plateau within the Jægersborg Dyrehaven park. Built between 1734 and 1736 by architect Laurids de Thurah, it served as a venue for royal banquets and hunts. Its name derives from the original dining room feature, where the table could be lowered to the kitchen floor, allowing guests to dine without servants present. The structure is built in a late Baroque style and replaced an earlier building known as the Hermitage. It remains a property of the Danish Monarchy and is part of the Royal Danish Collection. The interior retains much of its original 18th-century decorative detail and design. The site provides unobstructed views over the surrounding deer park and the Øresund Strait. It is a managed historical site that requires guided access for interior tours.
The path approaching the palace from the south, where the symmetry of the building is framed by the open meadow and forest edge.
Interior access is strictly by guided tour; book these well in advance through the official Royal Danish Collection website.
Bring comfortable walking shoes, as the palace is located deep within a large park and requires a significant walk from any park entrance.
Pack binoculars or a camera lens with zoom to observe the wild deer that frequent the open fields surrounding the plateau.
Do not attempt to reach the palace by car, as motorized vehicles are strictly prohibited within the park gates.
Open for guided tours only during the summer season; closed during winter months.
Maintain a quiet volume inside; photography is typically permitted but flash is strictly prohibited to protect the historic interiors.
