Slotsholmen

Slotsholmen, or Castle Island, and is a small pedestrian island (you can go biking too) next to the medieval center of Copenhagen. Absalon built the first castle of the city on this island in the twelfth century and that is where we now find the Christiansborg Palace, seat of the Danish parliament. This island is notable for its concentration of power: here you'll find all the country's major institutions, including the supreme court, the offices of the prime minister, and the ministry of finance, as well as the national archives and museums. The National Library, which stands on the western part of the island, is a beautiful building inspired by the royal chapel of Charlemagne.