Picture the grandeur of Bernstorffs Palæ. Its Rococo elegance whispers tales of centuries past. Standing before this magnificent town mansion you are transported back in time. Built between 1752 and 1756 this architectural gem sits proudly at the corner of Bredgade and Frederiksgade.
Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff commissioned its creation. He and Frederik Ludvig von Dehn were granted 30 years of tax exemption. In return they were to build matching mansions. Johann Gottfried Rosenberg designed both buildings. The Bernstorffs Palæ exemplifies the symmetry of Frederiksstaden’s Frederiksgade axis. Its design complements the Dehn Mansion.
For almost a century the Bernstorff family called this place home. In 1799 ownership changed hands. The building’s history is rich with notable owners. It was known as Prince Ferdinand’s Mansion and later King George’s Mansion. These later names reflect its changing ownership after the Bernstorff family.
A fascinating detail is the building’s role as a temporary home. After a devastating fire at Christiansborg Palace in 1884 the Supreme Court relocated to the Bernstorffs Palæ’s beletage. They occupied it until their new building was completed in 1919. Think of the court cases and judgments made within these very walls.
The palæ’s interiors once boasted four impressive Gobelin tapestries by François Boucher. These were sold around 1900. Today they are treasured in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Imagine the opulence these tapestries added to this grand building.
The Bernstorffs Palæ has been meticulously preserved. Listed on the Danish registry of protected buildings and places in 1918 it stands as a testament to Danish architectural heritage. Today Jeudan owns it. It serves as office space. But every stone whispers of its vibrant past its connection to powerful figures and significant events. As you stand here you’re a part of that history. The Bernstorffs Palæ stands as a living piece of Copenhagen’s story.