The Trumpeters Tower seen from Kronborgs main gate. Photo: Thomas Rahbek, Agency for Culture and Palaces.
The Trumpeter’s Tower – restoring a national icon
Kronborg Castle, Denmark’s most famous monument from the Renaissance, is characterised by decorative towers and spires. The tallest tower is called The Trumpeter’s Tower, whose name derives from its function. From the tower’s gallery sounded fanfares from the royal trumpeters at sunrise and sunset as well as at mealtimes. But they also signalled to passing merchant vessels, who had to stop and pay dues to the King’s coffers. The revenue actually paid for the castle, built by Frederik II 1574-85.
The original version of the tower had a less dominant spire, but in 1629 the castle was destroyed by fire. Although, the walls still stood and the sandstone clad facades were restored. Part of the stones were renewed, including some of the sculptural elements, like waterspouts, pediments and balustrades. The spire, being a copper covered wooden construction, had burnt right down to its base, and had to be completely rebuilt. The new spire was much taller than the old one and thus became the castle’s most important.
Wooden model of the spire from 1775 for the rebuilding after the fire the year before. Photo: Danish Royal Library.
In 1774 the spire was struck by lightning and burnt halfway down. It was reconstructed, although with a slight alteration, in that the upper part of the spire was widened to allow a person to climb it. That had not been the case beforehand, and that had made it extra difficult to put out the fire.
Over the years the sandstone facades have deteriorated to the point where several stones, including many of the sculptural decorations, have to be renewed. The original sandstones came from Helsingborg and Gotland (now in Sweden). Especially the latter type of stone is vulnerable to the Danish weather with its alternating frost and thaw. The spire was restored in 2015-16, and now the time has come to the tower’s stone structure. The work will commence in 2025 and is expected to be finished in 2028.
Detail of weathered waterspout. Photo: Thomas Rahbek, Agency for Culture and Palaces.
The restoration project has been over 30 years in the planning. From 1988 to 2018 “Mr. Kronborg”, the architect Uffe Kjerulf, acquired new sandstones, had casts made of the sculptural details and new copies were carved, that are ready to be put in place.
For further information about the project contact Kent Alstrup, architect at The Danish Agency for Culture and Palaces: kenal@slks.dk