Slotsholmen: Christiansborg, the burned Børsen, the Black Diamond
The island of Danish state — parliament, supreme court, the ruined 1620 stock exchange after the 2024 fire, and the harbour library. This is a Claude-drafted route awaiting the editor's walk.

1. Gammel Strand metro
Cityringen (M3/M4) at the north canal facing *Slotsholmen*. Step off and look across the water; the island and the parliament's slate roof are right there.

2. Højbro to Slotsholmen
Cross the canal at *Højbro*. The equestrian Bishop Absalon looks across after you from *Højbro Plads*. *Slotsholmen* has been a fortified site since Absalon's 1167 founding — the layers of palace under your feet go back to the medieval bishop's castle.

3. Christiansborg Slotsplads + the reception rooms
The third palace on the site (after 1794 and 1884 fires), Thorvald Jørgensen 1907–1928 in neo-baroque granite. *Folketinget* (parliament), *Højesteret* (supreme court) and the royal reception rooms live under one slate roof. The reception rooms are visitable on tickets; parliament tours run several times daily.

4. Børsen (the ruin)
The 1620 stock exchange Christian IV built in Dutch Renaissance, with the famous dragon-tail spire, burned 16 April 2024. The spire collapsed; the brick walls partly survived. The wooden scaffolding around the gutted shell is the current state in 2026, and the rebuild is years away. Walk slowly; it's a working ruin in the middle of working state buildings.

5. Royal Library Black Diamond
*Schmidt Hammer Lassen*'s 1999 harbour extension to *Det Kongelige Bibliotek*. Black granite cube, glass slot facing the harbour; a new wing connected to the old library across a road. Free to enter the foyer; the harbour terrace at the back is open and quiet.

6. Back to Gammel Strand
Walk back along the canal path; *Christiansborg*'s slate roof is on your right the whole way. Cityringen back to anywhere.

Slotsholmen: Christiansborg, the burned Børsen, the Black Diamond