Château de Montguyon, a powerful castle since the 11th century, was first mentioned in 1080. In 1404, Rosine de Montaut-Mussidan brought it as dowry to Guy II de La Rochefoucauld, and the La Rochefoucauld family owned it until its sale in 1683. The fortress played a role in history, such as being liberated by Dunois after the Battle of Montguyon in 1451. It served as a Protestant stronghold during the Wars of Religion and hosted notable figures like Henri de Navarre (future Henri IV) between 1571 and 1586. In 1621, King Louis XIII and Anne d'Autriche stayed at the castle.
In 1683, Pélagie de Rohan-Chabot acquired the barony, and it remained in the Rohan family's possession until the French Revolution. Struck by lightning in 1793, the castle became a ruin sold as national property.
Built on a rocky spur with remnants of a drawbridge, Montguyon Castle consists of a main building and a tower from the 13th century, modified in the 14th century. Originally reaching a height of 50 meters, the tower now remains in ruins after the 1793 fire. A section of the keep collapsed in 1982 due to an earthquake. Inscriptions of maxims have been discovered on the walls of the second floor.
Rosenborg Palace was built in the period 1606-34 as Christian IV’s summerhouse just outside the ramparts of Copenhagen. Christian IV was very fond of the palace and often stayed at the castle when he resided in Copenhagen, and it was here that he died in 1648. After his death, the palace passed to his son King Frederik III, who together with his queen, Sophie Amalie, carried out several types of modernisation.
The last king who used the place as a residence was Frederik IV, and around 1720, Rosenborg was abandoned in favor of Frederiksborg Palace.Through the 1700s, considerable art treasures were collected at Rosenborg Castle, among other things items from the estates of deceased royalty and from Christiansborg after the fire there in 1794.
Soon the idea of a museum arose, and that was realised in 1833, which is The Royal Danish Collection’s official year of establishment.