COPENHAGEN
THE CITY OF SPIRES
Information
Read
The Danish restaurant Noma has been voted the world’s best restaurant on a numerous occasion [6].
The city contains 15 Michelin-starred restaurants [6].
The city is a royal capital with over 9 centuries of monarchy [6].
Copenhagen has been awarded the world’s most livable and healthiest city in the world by Magazine Monocle and by CNN (American broadcaster) [6].
Copenhagen Distortion
A celebration of the capital’s nightlife.
The festival is a 5-day mobile street party that rolls to different neighborhoods each day.
The event takes place in early June
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Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Regarded as the biggest annual event in the capital with over 1200 indoor and outdoor concerts [6].
Ranging from cafes to street corners to the opera house [6].
Although most of music is jazz, you’ll also hear elements of blues and fusion [6].
The event takes place on the first Friday of July and goes for 10 days [6].
The first festival begun in 1978 and since then it has evolved into Europe’s leading jazz festival [6].
Its roots begun in the 1920s when Copenhagen was the ‘Jazz Capital’ of Scandinavia, and the ‘Montmarte Club’ was the most famous jazz bars in Europe [6].
Copenhagen Pride
A 5-day celebration of carnival that culminates in a Gay Pride March [6].
The event takes place in August, and has been going on since 1996 [6].
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The city’s history began in 1167 when Bishop Absalon established a fortress on slotsholmen island [6].
This was when he fortified a small unprotected harborside village [6].
After the fortification, the harborside village grew in importance [6].
At the time, the town was called Komandshavn (merchant’s port), it was eventually condensed to Kobenhavn [6].
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The original fortress (Absalon’s fortress) stood until 1369 until it was destroyed by the Hanseatic states [6].
In 1376, a new fortification was built on the island, Copenhagen Castle [6].
In 1416, King Erik of Pomerania, took up residence at the castle [6].
This marked the beginning of Copenhagen being the capital of Denmark [6].
The reign of Christian IV (r.1588 -1648) provided the capital a much needed make over [6].
He began an ambitious construction scheme, which involved building 2 new castles and various grand structures that included the Rundetarn observatory and the glorious Bosen (Europe’s first stock exchange) [6].
In the 18th century the city suffered many atrocities [6].
In 1711, the bubonic plague reduced the population from 60,000 to 20,000 [6].
And in 1728 and 1795 two tragic fires wiped out large areas of the city, which included most of its timber buildings [6].
However, 1807 is regarded as the worst incident in the city’s history, when the British unprovokedly bombed the capital during the Napoleonic wars [6].
The attack inflicted numerous casualties, and many homes, churches, and public buildings were set on fire [6].
The city rose again in the latter half of the century and beyond the 20th century [6].
This involved the town expanding beyond its old city walls, and establishing itself as a centre for culture, liberal politics, and the arts [6].
During WWII, the city managed to emerge relatively untouched, however many neighborhoods had begun to deteriorate into slums from the economic depression [6].
In 1948, an ambitious urban revival was established called the ‘finger plan’ [6].
This proved to be successful as it developed much of the city [6].
New housing projects with parks and recreational facilities were established that spread out like fingers from the centre [6].
In the 1960s, a rebellion of young people took hold of Copenhagen [6].
They were in protest, and many may say disillusioned, by the growth of materialism and the educational system being too authoritarian [6].
Squatters began to occupy vacant buildings around the city [6].
In 1971, they were able to occupy a 41 hectare abandon military camp at the east side of Christianshavn [6].
They named the ‘settlement’ Christiania [6].
To this day, Christiania has continued to be a ‘free state’ of Copenhagen [6].
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Attractions
Read
An 18th century palace with a large, cobbled square [6].
Home to the current queen of Denmark, Margrethe II [6].
The public can view sections of the palace, this includes the ‘Royal Apartments’, which was used by 3 generations of the monarchy from 1863 to 1947 [6].
The apartments comprise of the study and drawing room of Christian IX (1863-1906) and Queen Louise [6].
Regarded as the world’s oldest amusement park [6].
This complex was established in the 16th century, and contains bumper cars, roller coasters, slot machines, and beer halls [6].
The park is in the town of Klampenborg, which is 20 minutes from Copenhagen central train station [6].
Served as a stock exchange centre [6].
The building was built during Christian IV reign in the early 17th century [6].
The features include a 56m tall spire that is molded from the entwined tails of 4 dragons [6].
A Botanic Garden with a 19th century glass house [6].
The park claims to have the largest collection of plants in Denmark [6].
A free state neighborhood in Copenhagen [6].
The ‘Capitalist Freetown’ was established by squatters in 1971 when they took over an abandon 41-hectare military camp [6].
Although the police tried to clear the area, they failed [6].
The ‘Hippie Revolution’ was at its peak, and people after people continued to settle in the area [6].
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The government submitted to the public pressure and allowed the ‘neighborhood’ to remain as a social experiment [6].
Overtime the residents found it necessary to modify their ‘anything goes’ approach [6].
A policy was established that outlaw hard drugs and heroin/cocaine dealers [6].
Since then, the neighborhood has drawn nonconformists from around the world [6].
The district provides an area for collective business, workshops, and communal living [6].
While the appearance contains quirky DIY homes, cosy gardens, craft shops, eateries, beer gardens, and music venues [6].
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Situated in the heart of Copenhagen with an extensive central square that leads to the busting pedestrian shopping street of ‘Stroget’ [6].
The city hall was established in 1905 by the architect Martin Nyrop [6].
Above the main entrance is a golden statue of Bishop Absalon, who founded the city in 1167 [6].
Yet the show piece of the building is the ‘World clock’ designed by Jens Olsen, which costed 1 million kroner (111,000 US) [6].
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The clock shows the local time, solar time, sidereal time, sunrises and sunsets, firmament and celestial pole migration, planet revolutions, Gregorian calendar, and changing holidays [6].
You can climb the 105-metre building for stunning views of the city [6].
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Founded in 1191, yet has been rebuilt 3 times after devasting fires [6].
The current appearance was designed by CF Hasen in 1829 [6].
The building contains high vaulted ceilings and columns [6].
The inside is decorated with statues of Christ and his apostles which was completed by Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1839 [6].
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The sculpture of Jesus is regarded as the most popular worldwide model for statues of Jesus [6].
In 2004, the cathedral hosted the wedding of Prince Frederuk and Australian Mary Donaldson [6].
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Located on Frederik’s Hill in Frederiksberg [6].
The zoo contains 2500 natures which include lions, zebras, gorillas, a state-of-the-art elephant enclosure, and an artic ring enclosure [6].
The largest aquarium in Northern Europe [6].
It’s specifically designed to look like whirlpool from above [6].
The complex is divided into climatic and geographic sections, with the most spectacular area being the ‘Ocean/Coral Reef’ [6].
The aquarium is home to technicolor tropical fish, sharks, stingrays, and other majestic creatures [6].
A neo baroque marble church that was consecrated in 1894 [6].
It’s one of the capital’s most impressive architectural assets [6].
The showpiece is the grandiose dome which is more than 30m in dimeter, and the ringed exterior of Danish theologians and saints [6].
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The dome was inspired by St Peter’s in Rome, and it can be climbed on the weekend [6].
The church was drawn up by Nicolai Eigtved and commissioned by Frederik V [6].
Construction began in 1749 yet was postponed due to spiraling costs [6].
In the 19th century, Denmark’s wealthiest financier CF Tietgen revived the project [6].
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A museum in a 18th century hospital building [6].
The museum contains a collection of Danish silver and porcelain, textiles, and iconic designs of modern Danish innovators [6].
A star-shaped fortress that was commissioned by Frederik III in 1662 [6].
Today, it’s the most historically evocative sites in Copenhagen [6].
It contains grassy ramparts, moats, 18th-century barracks, a historic windmill, and a chapel that is occasionally used for concerts [6].
The fortress provides stunning views of the harbor and the little mermaid [6].
The most iconic, photographic, yet also underwhelming monument in Copenhagen is the ‘Little Mermaid’ [6].
The kilometre to travel from the city centre tends to elicit a ‘is that it?’ from the tourist [6].
The works on the monument begun in 1909 when Carl Jacobsen was enlightened after attending a ballet performance based on Hans Christian Andersen ‘The Little Mermaid’ [6].
[6].
He was so moved that he commissioned a sculptor ‘Edvard Eriksen’ to create a mermaid statue looking upon Copenhagen’s harbor front [6].
The face of the ‘mermaid’ was modelled after the ballerina ‘Ellen Price’ [6].
While the body of the mermaid was modelled after Eriksen’s wife [6].
However, the monument has suffered various damage from vandalisms due to political reasons [6].
In response, Carlsberg commissioned Danish sculptor Bjorn Norgaard to create a new mermaid in 2006 [6].
The new monument is only a few hundred metres from the original [6].
Although the original is regarded more ‘beautiful’, the new one is more related to ‘Andersen’s fairytale’ [6].
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Regarded as the oldest park in Copenhagen [6].
The park began as vegetable patch that was laid out by Christian IV in the early 17th century [6].
Since then, it has transformed with elegant flower beds, romantic garden paths, and puppet theatre [6].
Free performances are shown during the summer season at 2pm and 3pm from Tuesday to Sunday [6].
The museum provides an expansive detail of Danish history and culture [6].
This includes sections that cover the Norsemen and the Inuit of Greenland [6].
There’s also an evocative exhibition called ‘stories of Denmark’, which covers from 1660 to 2000 [6].
The museum also claims to practically have every artifact uncovered on Danish soil [6].
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This includes stone age tools, Viking weaponry, rune stones, and medieval jewelry [6].
The highlight is a well-crafted 3500-year-old sun chariot; and 3000 year old bronze lurs (horns), which are still capable of blowing a tune [6].
Other novelties that the museum comprise, include a recreated living quarter (inc. 18th century Copenhagen apartment), a collection of authentic toys (inc. village of dolls houses), and Egyptian mummies [6].
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An art museum that contains a collection of Carl Jacobsen artwork (the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries), Danish and French art from the 19th century, and a range of antiquities [6].
The building itself has a stunning glass-domed conservatory placed in the middle of the museum with a cafe [6].
Built in the early 17th century between 1606 and 1633 by Christian IV [6].
This Dutch Renaissance style castle with turrets and a moat was used as Christian’s summer house [6].
After his death it was mainly used for official functions and a place to safeguard the monarchy’s valuables [6].
In the 1830s the royal family decided to serve the castle as a royal museum [6].
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The 24 upper rooms are chronologically arranged with portraits of each monarch from Christian IV to Frederik VII [6].
The basement is a treasury that includes Christian IV’s glorious crown, and the jewel-studded sword of Christian III [6].
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Establish in 1642 by King Christian IV [6].
The 34.8-meter red-brick building was an observatory for the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe [6].
To this day, the tower still functions as an exceptional stargazing platform [6].
Thus, making it the oldest functioning observatory in Europe [6].
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You can climb to the top for stunning views of the city and view the night sky from the 3-metre mounted telescope [6].
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Denmark’s national gallery with a late 19th century ‘palazzo’ [6].
The museum contains medieval, and renaissance works from Dutch and Flemish artists [6].
It claims to have world’s finest collection of 19th century Danish ‘Golden age’ art [6].
Roughly pronounced as ‘stroll’, this is the city’s ‘main pedestrian street’, which consists of shoppers, tourists, and street performers [6].
The street weaves through Copenhagen’s historical core from ‘City Hall Square’ to the ‘King’s New Square’ [6].
The path technically comprises of 5 continuous streets [6].
On the west end, you’ll see souvenir stores, commonplace fashion brands, and kebab shops [6].
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On the east end, you’ll see flagship design and department stores, and luxury fashion boutiques [6].
On the parallel street ‘straedet’, you’ll find independent jewelers, antique silver ships, and some snug cafes too [6].
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The ‘Church of our Lady’ was built in the 17th century [6].
The building is 95m high with a colorful spiral tower that was added in 1752 [6].
You can climb the 400 steps for panoramic views [6].
This museum is dedicated to the artwork of Danish Sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) [6].
He was heavily influenced by ‘mythology’ after spending 4 decades in Rome [6].
He then returned home and donated his private collection to the Danish public [6].
In return the royal family constructed this complex to house his drawings and statues [6].
Established in 1843 [6].
The entertainment park contains numerous amusement rides, sparkling pavilions, carnival games, open-air stage shows, and a storybook atmosphere [6].
The park has a renovated, century old rollercoaster which you can ride [6].
Every Saturday, the park comes alight with its famous firework display [6].
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Every Friday night (from 10pm) during the summer season, the open-air stage hosts free rock concerts from Danish bands, and sometimes from international artists [6].
The best time to go is after dusk, this is when the fairy lights are switched on [6].
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An astronomy building with state-of-the-art equipment of projecting more than 7500 stars, plants, and galaxies in its domed space theatre [6].
The complex was named after Danish astronomer Tcycho Brahe (1546-1601), who created precision astronomical instruments that allowed him to make accurate observations of planets and stars [6].
His tools paved the way for discoveries made by later astronomers [6].
The centre also screens IMAX and 3D/4D films [6].
Regarded as Scandinavia’s largest library [6].
Has a complete collection of all Danish printed work since 1482 [6].
The redlight district on Copenhagen with sex shops, massage palours, and stiletto-strapped prostitutes [6].
Trips
Read
A royal palace with a fairytale garden that stretches along Denmark’s second largest lake ‘Esrum So’ (17 sq km) [6].
The complex was built in 1720 by Frederik IV and sits on 120 hectares of calming woodland [6].
Today the palace is the Royal family’s summer residence [6].
Helsingor is famously known for its UNESCO Palace, ‘Kronborg Palace’, which is known as ‘Elsinore Castle’ in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ (1602) [6].
Every August, the palace hosts a Shakespeare festival that comprises of theatre shows in the courtyard [6].
The town formally known as ‘Krogen’, began its life in the 1420s when Danish King Erik of Pomerania built a formidable tollhouse [6].
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In 1585, the building was expanded by Frederik II [6].
However, in 1629 the castle (known as Kronborg) was destroyed by a fire, in which only the outer walls remained standing [6].
Christian IV rebuilt the palace, while preserving the castle’s earlier renaissance style [6].
The Galleries Chapel was the only building in the Kronborg complex that escaped the fire in 1629 [6].
From 1658 to 1660, the castle was seized by the Swedes during the Danish-Sweden wars [6].
They looted everything of value, including its famous fountain [6].
In response, Christian V heighted the defenses [6].
However, the Danish royals gave up on trying to establish the castle as a place of residence [6].
The building became a barracks from 1785 until 1924, and now it’s a museum [6].
The most impressive room in the castle is the ballroom, it was the longest in Scandinavia when it was built in 1585 [6].
Regular banquets were held here that consist of 65 courses [6].
Each guest was given their own vomiting bucket [6].
The other attraction of the town is the M/S Maritime Museum [6].
This complex has been cleverly built in and around a dry dock near by the Kronborg Palace [6].
The museum provides a depth of history and culture of Denmark’s maritime [6].
This is conveyed through multimedia galleries [6].
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A pleasant modern market town 30km north of Copenhagen with a stunning Dutch renaissance-style palace [6].
The Frederiksborg Palace is situated along 3 islets on the castle’s lake, ‘Slotso’ [6].
The palace was built upon on the remnants of Frederik II, the father of Christian IV [6].
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Christian was born here and rebuilt the castle to its present-day structure in the early 17th century and named the building after his father [6].
The castle’s interior is stunning with elegant ceilings, fine paintings, and the dazzling coronation chapel [6].
The chapel crowned Danish monarchs from 1671 to 1840 [6].
From May to September, you can take a 30-minute ferry around the castle’s lake [6].
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The island of Mon is regarded as the most stunning southern islands [6].
Its famous drawcard is the emaculate white cliffs, ‘Mons Klint’, one of Denmark’s most specular landmarks [6].
The island’s main town ‘Stege’ is the gateway and hub of the island [6].
During the Middle Ages, the town was one of Denmark’s wealthiest towns, due to its herring industry [6].
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The town has a museum which includes ancient skeletons, jewelry, and the world’s oldest chewing gum, dating back 11k years to a settlement north of Vordingborg [6].
The cliffs of ‘Mons Klint’ is 128m high and was created during the last ice age when calcareous deposits from aeons of crushed seashells were raised from the ocean ground [6].
If you want to know more, there is a ‘GeoCenter’ which has displays on the how the cliffs were formed [6].
From far the cliffs are perceived to be white, however the closer you get, the less white they become [6].
Up close, they’re shades of orange, grey, and purple [6].
The cliffs are also the only place where the peregrine falcons nest [6].
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The name Odense translates to ‘Odin’s shrine’, for God of war, poetry, and wisdom [6].
The city is the largest on the island of Funen and is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen [6].
The town contains Andersen-related attractions that include museums, children centers, and sculptures of his most famous stories [6].
The two main attractions are the Hans Christian Andersen and the Odense Zoo [6].
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The HC Andersen’s house retells the story of his extraordinary life in engaging audiovisual material and quirky exhibits such as the display of his height [6].
Andersen was 185cm which at the time was 25cm taller than the national average [6].
His books have been translated into 170 languages, more than any other author [6].
The city’s zoo (2km from the centre) is Denmark’s showpiece zoo [6].
The highlight is the Kiwara area, an open space to mimic an African Savannah [6].
An attraction outside the city is the Egeskov Castle which was built in 1554 from thousands of upright oak trunks [6].
The castle contains a moat and drawbridge [6].
The city host three specific festivals: The Odense Blomsterfestival, the HC Andersen festival, and the Odense international film festival [6].
All festivals take place in August [6].
The Blomsterfestival is when the town is covered in colorful flowers (5 days) [6].
The Andersen festival comprises of HCA performances, concerts, comedy, and family-friendly events (7 days) [6].
The Odense international film festival celebrates short films [6].
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Roskilde legacy emerged during the Viking age when it rose to prominence [6].
It was the capital of Denmark [6].
In 980, Harald Bluetooth built Zealand’s first wooden State Christian Church [6].
In 1026, it was replaced by stone [6].
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The foundation of the church is now beneath the floor of the present-day cathedral [6].
During its prime, it was a thriving trade centre and the core of Danish Catholicism [6].
However, when the capital status moved to Copenhagen in the early 15th century, the town began to decline [6].
After the reformation in 1536, its population radically shrank [6].
Today, it’s a popular day trip from Copenhagen [6].
However, in July, the town comes alive for the Roskilde festival [6].
A 4-day rock concert in early July [6].
It ties with Glastonbury as Europe’s biggest rock festival with 75,000 camping on the site [6].
The festival begun in 1971 and has attracted the biggest international acts [6].
The event comprises of 160+ rock, techno, and world-music bands performing on 7 stages [6].
Besides music you have food workshops, art events, a swimming lake, and a naked run [6].
The town itself has two main attractions: the Viking Museum and Roskilde Cathedral [6].
The museum has on display 5 Viking ships that were discovered in the Roskilde Fjord [6].
The ships were built in the mid-11th century (between 1030 and 1042) when the town’s inhabitants were expecting an invasion [6].
They were then deliberately ‘scuttled’ (i.e. to sink by making holes through the ship) in a narrow channel 20km north from the town [6].
From there, massive stones were piled on top of the ship to create an underwater barrier [6].
In 1962, a coffer dam was established, and sea water was pumped out [6].
Within 4 months, archaeologists were able to remove the stones and excavate the ships which were in a thousand pieces [6].
The ship’s fragments were eventually resembled onto skeleton frames [6].
The ships are known as ‘Skuldelev 1,2,3,5,6’ [6].
The museum also has craftship exhibitions and boat trips [6].
The craftspeople use Viking-era techniques and tools create Viking ship replicas [6].
From May to September, you can have a 50-minute boat trip on traditional Nordic boats [6].
The Roskilde Cathedral is a Unesco World Heritage Site [6].
The building was first constructed in 1170 by Bishop Absalon [6].
Since then, it has been rebuilt and modified many times [6].
Now, it’s a twin-towered giant [6].
The cathedral contains a royal mausoleum inside, with 37 Danish Kings and Queens [6].
The most notable is King Christian IV, whose tomb is an ocean green coffin [6].
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A Viking ring fortress dating from 980 [6].
It’s one of the best-preserved Viking rings in Denmark (4 in total), and one of the most important Viking-age sites in the world [6].
It was constructed as a circular fortress, 17m wide and 6m high [6].
Inside, 2 streets divide the circular shape into quarters [6].
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Each quarter contained 4 longhouses set around a courtyard [6].
The place was home to 500 soldiers, craftsmen, and some women and children [6].
However, the fort was occupied for a short time, it was abandoned around 990 [6].
Today the fortress is filled with reconstructed Viking-era buildings using authentic materials and methods [6].
The most impressive is the replica longhouse, built in 1941 [6].
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A romantic village with cobblestone streets [6].
The village contains a dozen storybook houses with an attractive renaissance castle (Vallo Palace) [6].
The palace contains pointy turrets and a moat filled with lily pads [6].
The building has kept its original 16th century style; however, most has been rebuilt due to a fire in 1893 [6].
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In 1737, on Queen Sophie Madgalene’s birthday, who owns the state, established a foundation that transformed the castle into a home for Danish royalty [6].
Unmarried daughters of Danish royalty were allowed to live at the palace [6].
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GUIDE
INFORMATION
The Danish restaurant Noma has been voted the world’s best restaurant on a numerous occasion [6].
The city contains 15 Michelin-starred restaurants [6].
The city is a royal capital with over 9 centuries of monarchy [6].
Copenhagen has been awarded the world’s most livable and healthiest city in the world by Magazine Monocle and by CNN (American broadcaster) [6].
Copenhagen Distortion
A celebration of the capital’s nightlife.
The festival is a 5-day mobile street party that rolls to different neighborhoods each day.
The event takes place in early June
[expand title=””]
Copenhagen Jazz Festival
Regarded as the biggest annual event in the capital with over 1200 indoor and outdoor concerts [6].
Ranging from cafes to street corners to the opera house [6].
Although most of music is jazz, you’ll also hear elements of blues and fusion [6].
The event takes place on the first Friday of July and goes for 10 days [6].
The first festival begun in 1978 and since then it has evolved into Europe’s leading jazz festival [6].
Its roots begun in the 1920s when Copenhagen was the ‘Jazz Capital’ of Scandinavia, and the ‘Montmarte Club’ was the most famous jazz bars in Europe [6].
Copenhagen Pride
A 5-day celebration of carnival that culminates in a Gay Pride March [6].
The event takes place in August, and has been going on since 1996 [6].
[/expand]
The city’s history began in 1167 when Bishop Absalon established a fortress on slotsholmen island [6].
This was when he fortified a small unprotected harborside village [6].
After the fortification, the harborside village grew in importance [6].
At the time, the town was called Komandshavn (merchant’s port), it was eventually condensed to Kobenhavn [6].
[expand title=””]
The original fortress (Absalon’s fortress) stood until 1369 until it was destroyed by the Hanseatic states [6].
In 1376, a new fortification was built on the island, Copenhagen Castle [6].
In 1416, King Erik of Pomerania, took up residence at the castle [6].
This marked the beginning of Copenhagen being the capital of Denmark [6].
The reign of Christian IV (r.1588 -1648) provided the capital a much needed make over [6].
He began an ambitious construction scheme, which involved building 2 new castles and various grand structures that included the Rundetarn observatory and the glorious Bosen (Europe’s first stock exchange) [6].
In the 18th century the city suffered many atrocities [6].
In 1711, the bubonic plague reduced the population from 60,000 to 20,000 [6].
And in 1728 and 1795 two tragic fires wiped out large areas of the city, which included most of its timber buildings [6].
However, 1807 is regarded as the worst incident in the city’s history, when the British unprovokedly bombed the capital during the Napoleonic wars [6].
The attack inflicted numerous casualties, and many homes, churches, and public buildings were set on fire [6].
The city rose again in the latter half of the century and beyond the 20th century [6].
This involved the town expanding beyond its old city walls, and establishing itself as a centre for culture, liberal politics, and the arts [6].
During WWII, the city managed to emerge relatively untouched, however many neighborhoods had begun to deteriorate into slums from the economic depression [6].
In 1948, an ambitious urban revival was established called the ‘finger plan’ [6].
This proved to be successful as it developed much of the city [6].
New housing projects with parks and recreational facilities were established that spread out like fingers from the centre [6].
In the 1960s, a rebellion of young people took hold of Copenhagen [6].
They were in protest, and many may say disillusioned, by the growth of materialism and the educational system being too authoritarian [6].
Squatters began to occupy vacant buildings around the city [6].
In 1971, they were able to occupy a 41 hectare abandon military camp at the east side of Christianshavn [6].
They named the ‘settlement’ Christiania [6].
To this day, Christiania has continued to be a ‘free state’ of Copenhagen [6].
[expand title=””]
ATTRACTIONS
An 18th century palace with a large, cobbled square [6].
Home to the current queen of Denmark, Margrethe II [6].
The public can view sections of the palace, this includes the ‘Royal Apartments’, which was used by 3 generations of the monarchy from 1863 to 1947 [6].
The apartments comprise of the study and drawing room of Christian IX (1863-1906) and Queen Louise [6].
Regarded as the world’s oldest amusement park [6].
This complex was established in the 16th century, and contains bumper cars, roller coasters, slot machines, and beer halls [6].
The park is in the town of Klampenborg, which is 20 minutes from Copenhagen central train station [6].
Served as a stock exchange centre [6].
The building was built during Christian IV reign in the early 17th century [6].
The features include a 56m tall spire that is molded from the entwined tails of 4 dragons [6].
A Botanic Garden with a 19th century glass house [6].
The park claims to have the largest collection of plants in Denmark [6].
A free state neighborhood in Copenhagen [6].
The ‘Capitalist Freetown’ was established by squatters in 1971 when they took over an abandon 41-hectare military camp [6].
Although the police tried to clear the area, they failed [6].
The ‘Hippie Revolution’ was at its peak, and people after people continued to settle in the area [6].
[expand title=””]
The government submitted to the public pressure and allowed the ‘neighborhood’ to remain as a social experiment [6].
Overtime the residents found it necessary to modify their ‘anything goes’ approach [6].
A policy was established that outlaw hard drugs and heroin/cocaine dealers [6].
Since then, the neighborhood has drawn nonconformists from around the world [6].
The district provides an area for collective business, workshops, and communal living [6].
While the appearance contains quirky DIY homes, cosy gardens, craft shops, eateries, beer gardens, and music venues [6].
[/expand]
Situated in the heart of Copenhagen with an extensive central square that leads to the busting pedestrian shopping street of ‘Stroget’ [6].
The city hall was established in 1905 by the architect Martin Nyrop [6].
Above the main entrance is a golden statue of Bishop Absalon, who founded the city in 1167 [6].
Yet the show piece of the building is the ‘World clock’ designed by Jens Olsen, which costed 1 million kroner (111,000 US) [6].
[expand title=””]
The clock shows the local time, solar time, sidereal time, sunrises and sunsets, firmament and celestial pole migration, planet revolutions, Gregorian calendar, and changing holidays [6].
You can climb the 105-metre building for stunning views of the city [6].
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Founded in 1191, yet has been rebuilt 3 times after devasting fires [6].
The current appearance was designed by CF Hasen in 1829 [6].
The building contains high vaulted ceilings and columns [6].
The inside is decorated with statues of Christ and his apostles which was completed by Bertel Thorvaldsen in 1839 [6].
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The sculpture of Jesus is regarded as the most popular worldwide model for statues of Jesus [6].
In 2004, the cathedral hosted the wedding of Prince Frederuk and Australian Mary Donaldson [6].
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Located on Frederik’s Hill in Frederiksberg [6].
The zoo contains 2500 natures which include lions, zebras, gorillas, a state-of-the-art elephant enclosure, and an artic ring enclosure [6].
The largest aquarium in Northern Europe [6].
It’s specifically designed to look like whirlpool from above [6].
The complex is divided into climatic and geographic sections, with the most spectacular area being the ‘Ocean/Coral Reef’ [6].
The aquarium is home to technicolor tropical fish, sharks, stingrays, and other majestic creatures [6].
A neo baroque marble church that was consecrated in 1894 [6].
It’s one of the capital’s most impressive architectural assets [6].
The showpiece is the grandiose dome which is more than 30m in dimeter, and the ringed exterior of Danish theologians and saints [6].
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The dome was inspired by St Peter’s in Rome, and it can be climbed on the weekend [6].
The church was drawn up by Nicolai Eigtved and commissioned by Frederik V [6].
Construction began in 1749 yet was postponed due to spiraling costs [6].
In the 19th century, Denmark’s wealthiest financier CF Tietgen revived the project [6].
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A museum in a 18th century hospital building [6].
The museum contains a collection of Danish silver and porcelain, textiles, and iconic designs of modern Danish innovators [6].
A star-shaped fortress that was commissioned by Frederik III in 1662 [6].
Today, it’s the most historically evocative sites in Copenhagen [6].
It contains grassy ramparts, moats, 18th-century barracks, a historic windmill, and a chapel that is occasionally used for concerts [6].
The fortress provides stunning views of the harbor and the little mermaid [6].
The most iconic, photographic, yet also underwhelming monument in Copenhagen is the ‘Little Mermaid’ [6].
The kilometre to travel from the city centre tends to elicit a ‘is that it?’ from the tourist [6].
The works on the monument begun in 1909 when Carl Jacobsen was enlightened after attending a ballet performance based on Hans Christian Andersen ‘The Little Mermaid’ [6].
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He was so moved that he commissioned a sculptor ‘Edvard Eriksen’ to create a mermaid statue looking upon Copenhagen’s harbor front [6].
The face of the ‘mermaid’ was modelled after the ballerina ‘Ellen Price’ [6].
While the body of the mermaid was modelled after Eriksen’s wife [6].
However, the monument has suffered various damage from vandalisms due to political reasons [6].
In response, Carlsberg commissioned Danish sculptor Bjorn Norgaard to create a new mermaid in 2006 [6].
The new monument is only a few hundred metres from the original [6].
Although the original is regarded more ‘beautiful’, the new one is more related to ‘Andersen’s fairytale’ [6].
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Regarded as the oldest park in Copenhagen [6].
The park began as vegetable patch that was laid out by Christian IV in the early 17th century [6].
Since then, it has transformed with elegant flower beds, romantic garden paths, and puppet theatre [6].
Free performances are shown during the summer season at 2pm and 3pm from Tuesday to Sunday [6].
The museum provides an expansive detail of Danish history and culture [6].
This includes sections that cover the Norsemen and the Inuit of Greenland [6].
There’s also an evocative exhibition called ‘stories of Denmark’, which covers from 1660 to 2000 [6].
The museum also claims to practically have every artifact uncovered on Danish soil [6].
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This includes stone age tools, Viking weaponry, rune stones, and medieval jewelry [6].
The highlight is a well-crafted 3500-year-old sun chariot; and 3000 year old bronze lurs (horns), which are still capable of blowing a tune [6].
Other novelties that the museum comprise, include a recreated living quarter (inc. 18th century Copenhagen apartment), a collection of authentic toys (inc. village of dolls houses), and Egyptian mummies [6].
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An art museum that contains a collection of Carl Jacobsen artwork (the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries), Danish and French art from the 19th century, and a range of antiquities [6].
The building itself has a stunning glass-domed conservatory placed in the middle of the museum with a cafe [6].
Built in the early 17th century between 1606 and 1633 by Christian IV [6].
This Dutch Renaissance style castle with turrets and a moat was used as Christian’s summer house [6].
After his death it was mainly used for official functions and a place to safeguard the monarchy’s valuables [6].
In the 1830s the royal family decided to serve the castle as a royal museum [6].
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The 24 upper rooms are chronologically arranged with portraits of each monarch from Christian IV to Frederik VII [6].
The basement is a treasury that includes Christian IV’s glorious crown, and the jewel-studded sword of Christian III [6].
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Establish in 1642 by King Christian IV [6].
The 34.8-meter red-brick building was an observatory for the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe [6].
To this day, the tower still functions as an exceptional stargazing platform [6].
Thus, making it the oldest functioning observatory in Europe [6].
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You can climb to the top for stunning views of the city and view the night sky from the 3-metre mounted telescope [6].
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Denmark’s national gallery with a late 19th century ‘palazzo’ [6].
The museum contains medieval, and renaissance works from Dutch and Flemish artists [6].
It claims to have world’s finest collection of 19th century Danish ‘Golden age’ art [6].
Roughly pronounced as ‘stroll’, this is the city’s ‘main pedestrian street’, which consists of shoppers, tourists, and street performers [6].
The street weaves through Copenhagen’s historical core from ‘City Hall Square’ to the ‘King’s New Square’ [6].
The path technically comprises of 5 continuous streets [6].
On the west end, you’ll see souvenir stores, commonplace fashion brands, and kebab shops [6].
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On the east end, you’ll see flagship design and department stores, and luxury fashion boutiques [6].
On the parallel street ‘straedet’, you’ll find independent jewelers, antique silver ships, and some snug cafes too [6].
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The ‘Church of our Lady’ was built in the 17th century [6].
The building is 95m high with a colorful spiral tower that was added in 1752 [6].
You can climb the 400 steps for panoramic views [6].
Regarded as Scandinavia’s largest library [6].
Has a complete collection of all Danish printed work since 1482 [6].
This museum is dedicated to the artwork of Danish Sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1770-1844) [6].
He was heavily influenced by ‘mythology’ after spending 4 decades in Rome [6].
He then returned home and donated his private collection to the Danish public [6].
In return the royal family constructed this complex to house his drawings and statues [6].
Established in 1843 [6].
The entertainment park contains numerous amusement rides, sparkling pavilions, carnival games, open-air stage shows, and a storybook atmosphere [6].
The park has a renovated, century old rollercoaster which you can ride [6].
Every Saturday, the park comes alight with its famous firework display [6].
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Every Friday night (from 10pm) during the summer season, the open-air stage hosts free rock concerts from Danish bands, and sometimes from international artists [6].
The best time to go is after dusk, this is when the fairy lights are switched on [6].
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An astronomy building with state-of-the-art equipment of projecting more than 7500 stars, plants, and galaxies in its domed space theatre [6].
The complex was named after Danish astronomer Tcycho Brahe (1546-1601), who created precision astronomical instruments that allowed him to make accurate observations of planets and stars [6].
His tools paved the way for discoveries made by later astronomers [6].
The centre also screens IMAX and 3D/4D films [6].
The redlight district on Copenhagen with sex shops, massage palours, and stiletto-strapped prostitutes [6].
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A royal palace with a fairytale garden that stretches along Denmark’s second largest lake ‘Esrum So’ (17 sq km) [6].
The complex was built in 1720 by Frederik IV and sits on 120 hectares of calming woodland [6].
Today the palace is the Royal family’s summer residence [6].
Helsingor is famously known for its UNESCO Palace, ‘Kronborg Palace’, which is known as ‘Elsinore Castle’ in Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ (1602) [6].
Every August, the palace hosts a Shakespeare festival that comprises of theatre shows in the courtyard [6].
The town formally known as ‘Krogen’, began its life in the 1420s when Danish King Erik of Pomerania built a formidable tollhouse [6].
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In 1585, the building was expanded by Frederik II [6].
However, in 1629 the castle (known as Kronborg) was destroyed by a fire, in which only the outer walls remained standing [6].
Christian IV rebuilt the palace, while preserving the castle’s earlier renaissance style [6].
The Galleries Chapel was the only building in the Kronborg complex that escaped the fire in 1629 [6].
From 1658 to 1660, the castle was seized by the Swedes during the Danish-Sweden wars [6].
They looted everything of value, including its famous fountain [6].
In response, Christian V heighted the defenses [6].
However, the Danish royals gave up on trying to establish the castle as a place of residence [6].
The building became a barracks from 1785 until 1924, and now it’s a museum [6].
The most impressive room in the castle is the ballroom, it was the longest in Scandinavia when it was built in 1585 [6].
Regular banquets were held here that consist of 65 courses [6].
Each guest was given their own vomiting bucket [6].
The other attraction of the town is the M/S Maritime Museum [6].
This complex has been cleverly built in and around a dry dock near by the Kronborg Palace [6].
The museum provides a depth of history and culture of Denmark’s maritime [6].
This is conveyed through multimedia galleries [6].
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A pleasant modern market town 30km north of Copenhagen with a stunning Dutch renaissance-style palace [6].
The Frederiksborg Palace is situated along 3 islets on the castle’s lake, ‘Slotso’ [6].
The palace was built upon on the remnants of Frederik II, the father of Christian IV [6].
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Christian was born here and rebuilt the castle to its present-day structure in the early 17th century and named the building after his father [6].
The castle’s interior is stunning with elegant ceilings, fine paintings, and the dazzling coronation chapel [6].
The chapel crowned Danish monarchs from 1671 to 1840 [6].
From May to September, you can take a 30-minute ferry around the castle’s lake [6].
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The island of Mon is regarded as the most stunning southern islands [6].
Its famous drawcard is the emaculate white cliffs, ‘Mons Klint’, one of Denmark’s most specular landmarks [6].
The island’s main town ‘Stege’ is the gateway and hub of the island [6].
During the Middle Ages, the town was one of Denmark’s wealthiest towns, due to its herring industry [6].
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The town has a museum which includes ancient skeletons, jewelry, and the world’s oldest chewing gum, dating back 11k years to a settlement north of Vordingborg [6].
The cliffs of ‘Mons Klint’ is 128m high and was created during the last ice age when calcareous deposits from aeons of crushed seashells were raised from the ocean ground [6].
If you want to know more, there is a ‘GeoCenter’ which has displays on the how the cliffs were formed [6].
From far the cliffs are perceived to be white, however the closer you get, the less white they become [6].
Up close, they’re shades of orange, grey, and purple [6].
The cliffs are also the only place where the peregrine falcons nest [6].
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The name Odense translates to ‘Odin’s shrine’, for God of war, poetry, and wisdom [6].
The city is the largest on the island of Funen and is the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen [6].
The town contains Andersen-related attractions that include museums, children centers, and sculptures of his most famous stories [6].
The two main attractions are the Hans Christian Andersen and the Odense Zoo [6].
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The HC Andersen’s house retells the story of his extraordinary life in engaging audiovisual material and quirky exhibits such as the display of his height [6].
Andersen was 185cm which at the time was 25cm taller than the national average [6].
His books have been translated into 170 languages, more than any other author [6].
The city’s zoo (2km from the centre) is Denmark’s showpiece zoo [6].
The highlight is the Kiwara area, an open space to mimic an African Savannah [6].
An attraction outside the city is the Egeskov Castle which was built in 1554 from thousands of upright oak trunks [6].
The castle contains a moat and drawbridge [6].
The city host three specific festivals: The Odense Blomsterfestival, the HC Andersen festival, and the Odense international film festival [6].
All festivals take place in August [6].
The Blomsterfestival is when the town is covered in colorful flowers (5 days) [6].
The Andersen festival comprises of HCA performances, concerts, comedy, and family-friendly events (7 days) [6].
The Odense international film festival celebrates short films [6].
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Roskilde legacy emerged during the Viking age when it rose to prominence [6].
It was the capital of Denmark [6].
In 980, Harald Bluetooth built Zealand’s first wooden State Christian Church [6].
In 1026, it was replaced by stone [6].
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The foundation of the church is now beneath the floor of the present-day cathedral [6].
During its prime, it was a thriving trade centre and the core of Danish Catholicism [6].
However, when the capital status moved to Copenhagen in the early 15th century, the town began to decline [6].
After the reformation in 1536, its population radically shrank [6].
Today, it’s a popular day trip from Copenhagen [6].
However, in July, the town comes alive for the Roskilde festival [6].
A 4-day rock concert in early July [6].
It ties with Glastonbury as Europe’s biggest rock festival with 75,000 camping on the site [6].
The festival begun in 1971 and has attracted the biggest international acts [6].
The event comprises of 160+ rock, techno, and world-music bands performing on 7 stages [6].
Besides music you have food workshops, art events, a swimming lake, and a naked run [6].
The town itself has two main attractions: the Viking Museum and Roskilde Cathedral [6].
The museum has on display 5 Viking ships that were discovered in the Roskilde Fjord [6].
The ships were built in the mid-11th century (between 1030 and 1042) when the town’s inhabitants were expecting an invasion [6].
They were then deliberately ‘scuttled’ (i.e. to sink by making holes through the ship) in a narrow channel 20km north from the town [6].
From there, massive stones were piled on top of the ship to create an underwater barrier [6].
In 1962, a coffer dam was established, and sea water was pumped out [6].
Within 4 months, archaeologists were able to remove the stones and excavate the ships which were in a thousand pieces [6].
The ship’s fragments were eventually resembled onto skeleton frames [6].
The ships are known as ‘Skuldelev 1,2,3,5,6’ [6].
The museum also has craftship exhibitions and boat trips [6].
The craftspeople use Viking-era techniques and tools create Viking ship replicas [6].
From May to September, you can have a 50-minute boat trip on traditional Nordic boats [6].
The Roskilde Cathedral is a Unesco World Heritage Site [6].
The building was first constructed in 1170 by Bishop Absalon [6].
Since then, it has been rebuilt and modified many times [6].
Now, it’s a twin-towered giant [6].
The cathedral contains a royal mausoleum inside, with 37 Danish Kings and Queens [6].
The most notable is King Christian IV, whose tomb is an ocean green coffin [6].
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A Viking ring fortress dating from 980 [6].
It’s one of the best-preserved Viking rings in Denmark (4 in total), and one of the most important Viking-age sites in the world [6].
It was constructed as a circular fortress, 17m wide and 6m high [6].
Inside, 2 streets divide the circular shape into quarters [6].
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Each quarter contained 4 longhouses set around a courtyard [6].
The place was home to 500 soldiers, craftsmen, and some women and children [6].
However, the fort was occupied for a short time, it was abandoned around 990 [6].
Today the fortress is filled with reconstructed Viking-era buildings using authentic materials and methods [6].
The most impressive is the replica longhouse, built in 1941 [6].
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A romantic village with cobblestone streets [6].
The village contains a dozen storybook houses with an attractive renaissance castle (Vallo Palace) [6].
The palace contains pointy turrets and a moat filled with lily pads [6].
The building has kept its original 16th century style; however, most has been rebuilt due to a fire in 1893 [6].
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In 1737, on Queen Sophie Madgalene’s birthday, who owns the state, established a foundation that transformed the castle into a home for Danish royalty [6].
Unmarried daughters of Danish royalty were allowed to live at the palace [6].
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Copenhagen Experience
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark. Its history begun in 1167 when Bishop Absalon established a fortress on ‘Slotsholmen’, an island in the harbor of Copenhagen. It was awarded capital status in 1416, when King Erik of Pomerania took residence. The city went through hard times between 1711-1807, as it suffered a bubonic plague, two tragic fires, and the British bombing the city twice. The city rebounded in the 20th century when it begun an ambitious urban revival. Now, Copenhagen is an A-grade city of Europe for both living (awarded the most livable and healthiest city in the world) and travelling. The city becomes alive in the summer with various festivals, this includes ‘Distortion’, ‘Pride’, and its iconic ‘Jazz festival’. The attractions of Copenhagen are high in quantity and quality. You have one of the longest shopping street in Europe (Stroget). A district with DIY homes, cosy gardens, and craft shops (Christiana). And a 19th century amusement park with a storybook atmosphere and a famous firework display (Tivoli Gardens).
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If you’ve seen everything in Copenhagen, then you have a long list of day trips that are worth visiting. This includes the castle of Shakespeare’s play ‘Hamlet’ (Helsingør). The immaculate white cliffs of ‘Mons Klint’, which is one of Denmark’s most spectacular landmarks. And the Christian Andersen town of Odense. Overall, Copenhagen is an amazing city and capital. I can guarantee that you’ll enjoy your time, just don’t go in November as that is known when the winter fog sets over the country. If you’re a foodie and you have the money, then you should go to Noma, which has been rated the number 1 restaurant in the world on a numerous occasion.
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