ELSINORE (Dan. Helsingor), a seaport of Denmark on the east coast of the island of Zealand, 28 m. N. of Copenhagen. Pop. 15,841. It stands at the narrowest part of the Sound, op posite the Swedish town of Helsingborg, 3 m. distant. Railway communication is maintained by means of a train ferry. Helsingor received town privileges in 1425. In 1522 it was taken and burnt by Lubeck, but in 1535 was retaken by Christian II. It is cele brated as the Elsinore of Shakespeare's Hamlet. On a tongue of land east of the town stands the castle of Kronborg built by Fred erick II. in Dutch Renaissance style and extensively restored by Christian IV. after a fire in 1637. It was taken by the Swedes in 1658, but returned to the Danes in 166o. It is now mainly used as a maritime museum. The town possesses also the Carmelite monastery St. Maria church, the old hospital, Marienlyst castle and the ruins of the castle of Eric of Pommern. Helsingor has an important shipyard, which, after the abolition of the Sound dues, has helped to bring prosperity to the town.