Hermitage Palace/Hunting Lodge, Dyrehaven

[paulette]

The Eremitage Hunting Lodge


The Eremitage Hunting Lodge was built in 1734-36 in Jægersborg Deer Park as a hunting lodge for Christian VI by his young court builder Lauritz de Thurah. The palace is a fine example of the late Baroque period in Danish architecture.

Now, as it was then, the Eremitage is used for royal hunting parties, mainly in Jægersborg Deer Park. The small, compact palace on the top of the Eremitage plain is also known to many from the annual Hubertus hunts.

The Eremitage Hunting Lodge is a 'civil-list palace', meaning that it is owned by the state and made available to the Royal Family. The palace is not therefore accessible to the general public, although in recent years it has been opened on certain occasions in connection with national collections on behalf of the Danish Refugee Council.

[Muhler]

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.

[polyesco]

thank you Muhler

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

[Muhler]

You are welcome.

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!)

[polyesco]

Originally Posted by Muhler

- 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

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

[Muhler]

This thread is about the newly renovated Eremitage Slot, located north of Copenhagen in a very large park called Dyrehaven = the animal park. Which is a public ground but also a place where 2.000 red deers and other animals live and breed.

The Eremitage Slot = The Hermitage Palace was finished in 1736 and has now been carefully restored to it's original and quite splendid decorations.

It was previously only used by the DRF in connection with the annual Hubertus Hunt, which isn't a hunt, but a ride. In full fox hunting attire, just without foxes and hounds. But the recent state visit suggests it will also be used during more official events like entertaining visiting dignitaries. Which is much more practical now that the place has been renovated.

More details will follow in this thread.

But let us have a look at the interiour of the hunting palace.

https://app.box.com/s/i08jvqwbzxrl24b12oev
The chairs in the place is also in the style of when the palace was build. The design of the fabric has been chosen by QMII. They are now stored in the servants dining room on the top floor.

https://app.box.com/s/capqrk3thnfxv8hg4ivb
The main and quite elaborate dining room, where the King could dine with his guests or guest... alone - en eremitage. The table has in inbuild foodlift, thus dispensing with servants.

https://app.box.com/s/f2s38vnlx200d3y3eq2d
When you enter through the front door you enter the hall, which is deliveratly kept low key, so as not to outshine the dining room upstairs.

https://app.box.com/s/fqkjv0ygpijdcduu7cay
The main stairs are painted in a hue of blue that had just been invented when the palace was build. The tiles on the walls are all handmade and individually decorated with hunting scenes.

https://app.box.com/s/q3ps3xcx5reu2evyr7hl
Eremitage Slottet was until recently bitterly cold during winter and only the odd stove provided some warmth. Here is one such iron cast stove.

https://app.box.com/s/t3jmhhc0inwsk93j1fqo
The Room of the Crown Prince. despite the apparent simplicity of the room, the colors combined with the light give the room a very elegant touch.

https://app.box.com/s/n420l4nljvpbku4wl4ld
The Queen's front Chamber. The Queens were actually rarely there. Behind the mirror at the wall to the left is a secret door to a privy. - What you...shall we say deposited there... went straight down to the basement.

https://app.box.com/s/93zbrzqxog0kx4xuaqxy
Between the columns in the dining hall are handmade decorations called trophies.

https://app.box.com/s/07o7hsiruq7wo8bicqy8
This being a hunting palace, there are antlers everywhere. They are from the deers living in the park. A few hundred animals are culled every year to maintain a population of 2.000 deers. Each year Prince Henrik gets to shoot the largest stag in the park.

https://app.box.com/s/zkxxajevg53k8onpnd51
There are three balconies and we are used to seeing members of the DRF every year during the Hubertus Hunt, named after the saint of hunting, Saint Hubertus. (That's what he is called in Danish at least).

https://app.box.com/s/a25ndtx2wj1i8xszm2po
On the ceiling in the dining hall are cerubes. They have now been restored to their original looks.

[Muhler]

A short summary of the history and use of the palace, copied from another thread:

Well, very briefly.
Eremitageslottet was build in the early 1700's. Back then the park where it is located, Dyrehaven, was royal hunting grounds. Especially for deers and there are still lots of deers there.
Erimetageslottet was located quite a good distance from Copenhagen to the south and Fredensborg to the north, so the king simply needed a place to seek cover in bad weather, warm his feet, get a change of clothes and a bite to eat.
It was never meant as a place to sleep, let alone stay for several days and the kitchen was very basic.
It was however a place where the king could have a discreet rendesvous and the place was contructed in a way so that the dining room was supplied via a foodlift, going up through the centre of the table in fact, so that no servants need be present. - You could dine "en eremitage" - alone, hence the name.

The place is elaboratly decorated because that was the fashion of the time, but also because this was a place the king took other royal guests, so it had to have a certain class.
It is also a testament to the fact that Denmark was recovering econimically after the disastrous wars of the 1600's. (In many ways and in many places in DK it took more than a 100 years to recover, but that's another story). So the king could afford the luxury of building such a neat place.
Women were normally not allowed unless accompanied by their invited husbands.

Up until recently there was no heating and no warm water and with the chimneys closed down for fear of fire, it could be bone-cold during the winter!
But now it has been restored to it's original glory.

More pics and a Google overview to follow tomorrow.

[wyevale]

Thankyou Muhler, for putting the spotlight on this interesting and little known residence. i confess i had never heard of it !

i look forward to learning more tomorrow.

[gerry]

Originally Posted by Muhler

This thread is about the newly renovated Eremitage Slot, located north of Copenhagen in a very large park called Dyrehaven = the animal park. Which is a public ground but also a place where 2.000 red deers and other animals live and breed.

The Eremitage Slot = The Hermitage Palace was finished in 1736 and has now been carefully restored to it's original and quite splendid decorations.

It was previously only used by the DRF in connection with the annual Hubertus Hunt, which isn't a hunt, but a ride. In full fox hunting attire, just without foxes and hounds. But the recent state visit suggests it will also be used during more official events like entertaining visiting dignitaries. Which is much more practical now that the place has been renovated.

More details will follow in this thread.

But let us have a look at the interiour of the hunting palace.

https://app.box.com/s/i08jvqwbzxrl24b12oev
The chairs in the place is also in the style of when the palace was build. The design of the fabric has been chosen by QMII. They are now stored in the servants dining room on the top floor.

https://app.box.com/s/capqrk3thnfxv8hg4ivb
The main and quite elaborate dining room, where the King could dine with his guests or guest... alone - en eremitage. The table has in inbuild foodlift, thus dispensing with servants.

https://app.box.com/s/f2s38vnlx200d3y3eq2d
When you enter through the front door you enter the hall, which is deliveratly kept low key, so as not to outshine the dining room upstairs.

https://app.box.com/s/fqkjv0ygpijdcduu7cay
The main stairs are painted in a hue of blue that had just been invented when the palace was build. The tiles on the walls are all handmade and individually decorated with hunting scenes.

https://app.box.com/s/q3ps3xcx5reu2evyr7hl
Eremitage Slottet was until recently bitterly cold during winter and only the odd stove provided some warmth. Here is one such iron cast stove.

https://app.box.com/s/t3jmhhc0inwsk93j1fqo
The Room of the Crown Prince. despite the apparent simplicity of the room, the colors combined with the light give the room a very elegant touch.

https://app.box.com/s/n420l4nljvpbku4wl4ld
The Queen's front Chamber. The Queens were actually rarely there. Behind the mirror at the wall to the left is a secret door to a privy. - What you...shall we say deposited there... went straight down to the basement.

https://app.box.com/s/93zbrzqxog0kx4xuaqxy
Between the columns in the dining hall are handmade decorations called trophies.

https://app.box.com/s/07o7hsiruq7wo8bicqy8
This being a hunting palace, there are antlers everywhere. They are from the deers living in the park. A few hundred animals are culled every year to maintain a population of 2.000 deers. Each year Prince Henrik gets to shoot the largest stag in the park.

https://app.box.com/s/zkxxajevg53k8onpnd51
There are three balconies and we are used to seeing members of the DRF every year during the Hubertus Hunt, named after the saint of hunting, Saint Hubertus. (That's what he is called in Danish at least).

https://app.box.com/s/a25ndtx2wj1i8xszm2po
On the ceiling in the dining hall are cerubes. They have now been restored to their original looks.

A beautiful mini palace indeed! Mange tak, Muhler

[Muhler]

My pleasure Gerry, wyevale and Polyesco.

Here is a Google view of the park and the indeed very small palace: https://app.box.com/s/zfh9d3e7ifzmyhbkjl8m

And closer Google view: https://app.box.com/s/pyi0x5t3h3ux7eh86asn

And four photos showing the hunting palace form various angles:
https://app.box.com/s/77a3ereo385qc3ndelb7

https://app.box.com/s/sbal80co173842hi790n

https://app.box.com/s/ehs39phvbdfzkvm9s2x1

https://app.box.com/s/vplhl69emmocwav54vrb

[CyrilVladisla]

The heavy decoration of Ermitage Hunting Palace consists of Greek mythological figures that are related with hunting activities and the woodlands of the Deer Park.

[eya]

One beautiful picture of the Hermitage Palace shares the Palace

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpv_z0yA2Px/

[Lee-Z]

Originally Posted by eya

One beautiful picture of the Hermitage Palace shares the Palace

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpv_z0yA2Px/

That is gorgeous!

[Blog Real]

Trend Hunting Lodge
https://maryfromthestart.blogspot.co...ing-lodge.html

[Blog Real]

Pictures of the palace:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFDVtEKS1...47573881_n.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYH0_PU2a...43703822_n.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-UkvFHWo...74474626_n.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcW2TVgz4...90411123_n.jpg

[iceflower]

Winter sceneries of the Palace and the palace grounds' residents have been shared today:


** kongehuset instagram gallery **

[Muhler]

Lovely.

I've never been there myself - yet. I really ought to get around to see the place.
Anyway, the park around the hermitage is very popular among humans, dogs and their humans as well as wildlife, especially red deer.
As with most European dyrehaver or Tiergartens as they are perhaps better known internationally, the distance between humans and animals is very short as you can tell from the photos.
It's not a petting zoo though and the deer can be quite aggressive around the breeding season and people are also cautioned to stay clear of the deer when they have young.
Old, sick and injured animals are quietly taken out by the forester. Usually at dusk or dawn.
They are also culled from time to time. Otherwise the deer, having no natural enemies in the park, will strip the place of vegetation.
Quite surprisingly this has worked for a couple of hundred years now.

The park is very popular among people in Copenhagen and there almost always people there.
And I understand it's a very popular place to gather for newly graduated high schoolers, to the consternation of dogs, deer and older people. (For high schoolers that's everyone from 30+)
The swans and ducks are pretty obese, being very well fed by all sorts of people.

[Toledo]

Originally Posted by Blog Real

Pictures of the palace:
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KFDVtEKS1...47573881_n.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gYH0_PU2a...43703822_n.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D-UkvFHWo...74474626_n.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lcW2TVgz4...90411123_n.jpg

I love the dark back deer. Our deer over, White Tail, here are tan and white under