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Activities Castle Denmark Europe Historic Sightseeing Urban

Holger the Dane – The Sleeping Warrior of Denmark

I first encountered the Holger the Dane character (or Holger Danske) in the underground passageways of Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, Denmark.  There, I found an immense statue of a sleeping warrior sitting in a chair with his sword and shield at the ready.  I had not heard of Holger before my visit to Kronborg, but was immediately enraptured.  Spotlights periodically turned on and off, brightly illuminating Holger in between periods of darkness, creating a breathtaking vision.  Who was this man?  What was he known for?  Was he myth or history?  So, I decided that I had to do a little bit of research.