Eremitageslottet - Eremitage Hunting Palace
 

Eremitageslottet = The Eremitage Palace was build under Christian VI in 1734-36, replacing a worn down house that stood there previously and which served as a base for royal parforce-hunts.
Parforce hunting is, in my eyes, a pretty nasty form of hunting where the prey is chased by hounds and riders until it drops from exhaustion and then it's killed with a short hunting sword, a Hirchfänger. - (My aversion is somewhat ironic as the first humans most likely hunted that way).

The palace is actually named after a foodlift. Which enabled food to be send up from the pantry in the basement, so that the king could dine without the presence of servants, - en ermitage. (Might also be a good idea if you entertained ladies).
The purpose of the place was basically to have a place to enjoy your cold lunch, seek shelter from the weather, get a change of clothes, "wash your hands" and if need be have a nap upstairs. - And it's still used to a very large extent like this today.

It has been renovated a number of times over the years and it's not that many years ago heating was installed, until then the palace could be bitterly cold!

Located on top of a gentle rise in the middle of a large park with red deers roaming freely there is a spectacular view and located just north of Copenhagen it's also a favorite picnic spot for the locals.
It is popularly known as "kolonihavehuset" = the allotment garden house. (Fredensborg is known as the summer cottage).

Here are two Google overviews of Eremitageslottet and the surrounding park: https://www.box.com/s/zfh9d3e7ifzmyhbkjl8m
https://www.box.com/s/pyi0x5t3h3ux7eh86asn
(Remember: Go full screen first, then zoom in).

And here are four large pics of the palace itself:
Seen from Vest: https://www.box.com/s/vplhl69emmocwav54vrb
Seen from North-vest: https://www.box.com/s/77a3ereo385qc3ndelb7
Seen from South-east: https://www.box.com/s/sbal80co173842hi790n
And during winter: https://www.box.com/s/ehs39phvbdfzkvm9s2x1

- I'm sure our resident Copenhageners can add more details. :smile:

:previous:thank you Muhler :flowers:

is this were the equestrian event with Prince Henrik took place? Princes Felix and Christian and Princess Isabella attended as well?

:previous: You are welcome. :smile:

Yes, it is.

The Hubertus Hunt takes place on the first Sunday in November every year.

Here is a gallery: Hubertusjagten 2007

Traditionally it's members of the DRF who present the prizes.

It's actually a modern form of the Parforce hunting, I wrote about above.
Nowadays, no animals are hunted and no hounds are used. The riders instead "chase" a front rider, who wear a fox-tail.

The route is pretty long and you need to be an accomplished rider to even attend let alone complete. Tradition also dicates that you wear proper red and white riding gear.
There are actually two routes, one for full grown horses and skilled riders and a shorter one for ponies and much younger riders.
During the ride they jump fences and change pace before reacing the target. If you don't jump all fences, you can't win. This is not just about being the fastest rider.
One of the absolute spectators favorites is the water-pond. Here they (and the cameras) gleefully wait in the hope that some riders will fall off and end up in the cold and muddy water.
Pony-riders who fall off are however met with a good deal more sympathy.

- Who knows, perhaps some of M&F's children will inherit Mary's interest for horses and take part some time in the future.
(I somehow can't imagine Joachim's children being particularly interested in horses.... Horse power, yes! But four legged creatures? No!)

thank you again Muhler :flowers::flowers:

I can def. see M&F kids participating. did Frederik participate one year? i though i saw him in red and white riding gear but maybe that was another event