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We then walked out of the Royal apartments heading towards the Casemates, which they proposed to visit carrying some torches with us, which we didn't and soon found out we should, as one could barely see where to walk onto.
Soldiers are said to have quartered there in the wartime, as well as in short periods in peacetime. The casemates are split in two floors, the upper ones having functioned among other things as stables, guardrooms and a brewery, whilst the lowest ones had room for drill halls, storage chambers and accommodation when necessary. One of them is even said to have served as dungeon. The casemates are said to have been able to accommodate a total of a thousand men.
When we came out onto the open and before having visited the Castle Church we walked around the Courtyard, which was undoubtedly beautiful to look at, the church portal being worth of note in the whole ensemble because of being decorated with the Old Testament figures of Moses, Solomon and David.
The Chapel consecrated in 1582, whose interior was not affected by the fire was elaborately carved under the reign of Christian IV.
A sumptuous carved and ornamented royal pew was installed opposite the pulpit and in 1636 the present organ façade finished, with the tiled floor having been renovated in 1840 after the chapel was taken over by the military in 1785 and used as a power magazine and fencing-hall.
The altar piece was supplied in 1587 having been executed by the Dutch sculptor Johan Gregor van der Schardt, who created the large field of alabaster representing the Calvary and the two side panels of wood ornamented with alabaster and gold - the one on the left depicting Abraham about to sacrifice Isaac and the one on the right the brazen serpent in the desert.
The narrow ends of the pews were decorated with colourful painted carvings in 1586, which offer a rich selection of Renaissance ornamentation and figural motifs. Also worth of note was the coffered ceiling below the gallery.
(To be continued)
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