Elsinore (Danish Helsingør) is a Danish city at the north-east point of Zealand. Internationally, it is mostly known from the theatre play Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

The history of Elsinore could be followed back to 70 BC according to Rerum Danicarum Historica from 1631. The Danish name Helsingør was given from the name of the inhabitants, Helsinger, and was mentioned for the first time in King Valdemar the Victorious book from 1231. Before the middle ages, it just simply a market place where the Vikings sold goods including women. About 1200 AD the first church, Sct Olai Church, was built. A number of convents once surrounded the church but now all that remains is the church building, still in use today.

Elsinore as we know it today was founded in the 1420's by the Danish king Erik of Pommern. He established the Sound Toll in 1429 and build the castle 'Krogen', which was made bigger in the 1580's and named Kronborg. The oldest parts of the cathedral of Elsinore is from the 1200's and tells us that the fisherman's village, as Elsinore was then, was a town of a certain importance. At least, there have always been a kind of ferryboats between Elsinore and Helsingborg.

Kronborg Castle is a main tourist attraction.

Across the short water distance of Øresund is the Swedish city of Helsingborg. Through both cities, and the ferry between them, goes European route E4.

The municipality of Elsinore covers an area of 122 km², and has a total population of approx. 61.000

External links

• Official website