Kronborg Castle in large part owes its fame to Shakespeare, who made the fortress the background of Hamlet. In the play, the castle is called Elsinore, after the name of the town in which it is located. In the castle there is even a symbolic tomb of Hamlet. The true history of Kronborg Castle dates back to 1420 when its construction began. Over the centuries the impressive royal residence had been a fortress, a prison and barracks. The fortress is on the UNESCO list of world heritage.