The Valley of the Norsemen was originally commissioned by King Frederik V to celebrate the common people of the Dano-Norwegian union.
The garden's geometric design follows a star-shaped pattern, with avenues intersecting at the palace, reflecting the absolutist power structures of the era.
The sculptures in the Valley of the Norsemen are crafted from Norwegian sandstone, which is historically significant for its resistance to weathering.
The park serves as a regular venue for state visits, where foreign heads of state are often invited to plant a commemorative tree in the garden.
The central avenue in the gardens aligns perfectly with the palace, creating a grand visual axis that continues into the surrounding forest.
The garden contains several original 18th-century outbuildings and pavilions that were used for royal entertainment and private retreats.
Fredensborg Palace Gardens is one of Denmark's largest historical gardens, laid out in the French Baroque style. Designed by landscape architect J.C. Krieger in the 18th century, the park features a radiating network of avenues stretching from the palace across the landscape. The gardens are notable for the 'Valley of the Norsemen' (Nordmandsdalen), a collection of 70 sandstone sculptures depicting Norwegian and Faroese farmers and fishermen. The park serves as a primary summer residence for the Danish Royal Family. While the private gardens immediately surrounding the palace are restricted when the Royal Family is in residence, the vast majority of the park remains open to the public year-round. It is connected to the forest of Store Dyrehave, offering extensive walking trails. The gardens are situated on the eastern shore of Esrum Lake, Denmark's second-largest lake.
The elevated view from the path overlooking the Valley of the Norsemen looking back toward the palace.
Bring comfortable walking shoes as the gravel paths extend for several kilometers throughout the forest areas.
Check the official royal website for 'Royal Residence' status; if the flag is hoisted, the inner palace gardens may be closed for private royal use.
Combine your visit with a walk along the shores of Esrum Lake to see the palace from the water-side perspective.
Do not attempt to access the immediate palace courtyards if they are roped off; do not pick flowers or disturb the sculptures.
The inner palace garden is closed to the public when the Royal Family is in residence; check the royal website before arrival.
Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times; refrain from entering marked private areas near the palace buildings.
