Bernstorff Palace () in Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark, was built in the middle of the 18th century for Foreign Minister Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff. It remained in the possession of the Bernstorff family until 1812. In 1842, it was bought by Christian VIII. For many years, it was used as a summer residence by Christian IX until his death in 1906. Since then and until recently, it was used by the Danish Emergency Management Agency as an academy for non-commissioned officers, but it has now opened as a hotel and conference centre. History Bernstorff family The palace was designed by the French architect Nicolas-Henri Jardin, who had been brought to Denmark to complete Frederick's Church in Copenhagen after the death of Nicolai Eigtved in 1754. It is one of the earliest examples of Neoclassical architecture in Denmark. The elaborately decorated two-storeyed building was completed in May 1765 at considerable cost. At the time, it had four small decorative garrets, attics with decorative vases and a wide balcony on the roof ridge itself. On the garden side, there is a dome-covered projection rising the full height of the building. The palace's many rooms were modest in size and intended primarily for domestic use rather than for display. Most are panelled with parquet floors, large mirrors and decorated ceilings. The four rooms on the south side have overdoors decorated by Johan Edvard Mandelberg. Bernstorff left Denmark in 1770, after being dismissed by the regent, Johann Friedrich Struensee. The estate remained in his family's hands until 181. Changing owners, 18121842 In 1812, Bernstorff Palace was sold for 225,000 rigsdaler to Ole Christian Borch. The next year, he sold it for 280,000 rigsdaler yo royal presidentk later gehejmestats- og justitsminister Frederik Julius Kaas. In 1817, Kaas sold Bernstorff Palace to Christopher MacEvoy Jr., a wealthy plantation owner from the Danish West Indies, who shortly thereafter also bought the Dehn Mansion in Copenhagen. He had the park redesigned in the English garden style. At the time of his death in 1838, Bernstorff Palace had fallen into neglect. Most of the land remained in the hands of the Bernstorff family until 1839 when it was sold to krigsassessor Peter Hilarius Ferdinand Kalko. That same year, at auction, he also purchased Bernstorff Palace for 25,850 rigsdaler. Kalko's intention was to demolish the main building but this plabn was never realized. Royal ownership, 18421939 The Bernstorff Palace