Originally a Viking fishing village founded in the 10th century, Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark in the early 15th century.
Traditionally, Copenhagen's founding has been dated to Bishop Absalon's construction of a modest fortress on the little island of Slotsholmen in 1167 where Christiansborg Palace stands today.
The city's origin as a harbour and a place of commerce is reflected in its name. Its original designation, from which the contemporary Danish name is derived, was Køpmannæhafn, meaning "merchants' harbour."
Dyrehavsbakken, a fair-ground and pleasure-park established in 1583, is located in Klampenborg just north of Copenhagen in a forested area known as Dyrehaven. Created as an amusement park complete with rides, games and restaurants by Christian IV, it is the oldest surviving amusement park in the world.
The 17th century tower and observatory Rundetaarn, or the round tower, is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. When Christian IV built the tower, Denmark was famous for its astronomical discoveries.
Copenhagen lost around 22,000 of its population of 65,000 to the plague in 1711.
The Copenhagen Fire of 1728 began on the evening of October 20th and continued to burn for three days, destroying approximately 28% of the city, leaving some 20% of the population homeless. No less than 47% of the medieval section of the city was completely lost.
Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, today the most popular amusement park in Scandinavia, opened on August 15, 1843.
Among the Tivoli Gardens' rides are the oldest still operating roller coaster Rutschebanen from 1915 and the oldest ferris wheel still in use, opened in 1943.
The famous Copenhagen statue of Hans Christian Andersen showing him sitting with a book in his hands was funded by public subscription. Originally it was to show Anderson reading to a crowd of children. He angrily vetoed the idea shocked at the thought of reading aloud to a group of young admirers.
The famous sculpture of The Little Mermaid at the entrance to the harbor was unveiled on August 23, 1913.
As a result of Denmark's neutrality in the First World War, Copenhagen prospered from trade with both Britain and Germany while the city's defences were kept fully manned by some 40,000 soldiers for the duration of the war.
During World War II, Copenhagen was occupied by German troops along with the rest of the country from April 9, 1940 until their surrender at Lüneburg Heath on May 4, 1945.
Apprentice barbers in Copenhagen staged the longest strike in history from 1938 to 1961.
The Copenhagen Metro, the underground railway system, opened in 2000.
In 2009, Copenhagen was top of the ranking of the richest cities in the world in terms of gross earnings It has since dropped from first place, but is still considered one of the major financial centres of Northern Europe.
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Lucinda Williams wrote a song titled “Copenhagen” about the death of her former manager Frank Carrali while she was away on tour in the Danish capital.
Some 37% of Copenhagen's citizens cycle to work, school or universit.
Source Wikipedia
Traditionally, Copenhagen's founding has been dated to Bishop Absalon's construction of a modest fortress on the little island of Slotsholmen in 1167 where Christiansborg Palace stands today.
The city's origin as a harbour and a place of commerce is reflected in its name. Its original designation, from which the contemporary Danish name is derived, was Køpmannæhafn, meaning "merchants' harbour."
Dyrehavsbakken, a fair-ground and pleasure-park established in 1583, is located in Klampenborg just north of Copenhagen in a forested area known as Dyrehaven. Created as an amusement park complete with rides, games and restaurants by Christian IV, it is the oldest surviving amusement park in the world.
The 17th century tower and observatory Rundetaarn, or the round tower, is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. When Christian IV built the tower, Denmark was famous for its astronomical discoveries.
Copenhagen lost around 22,000 of its population of 65,000 to the plague in 1711.
The Copenhagen Fire of 1728 began on the evening of October 20th and continued to burn for three days, destroying approximately 28% of the city, leaving some 20% of the population homeless. No less than 47% of the medieval section of the city was completely lost.
Copenhagen's Tivoli Gardens, today the most popular amusement park in Scandinavia, opened on August 15, 1843.
Among the Tivoli Gardens' rides are the oldest still operating roller coaster Rutschebanen from 1915 and the oldest ferris wheel still in use, opened in 1943.
The famous Copenhagen statue of Hans Christian Andersen showing him sitting with a book in his hands was funded by public subscription. Originally it was to show Anderson reading to a crowd of children. He angrily vetoed the idea shocked at the thought of reading aloud to a group of young admirers.
The famous sculpture of The Little Mermaid at the entrance to the harbor was unveiled on August 23, 1913.
As a result of Denmark's neutrality in the First World War, Copenhagen prospered from trade with both Britain and Germany while the city's defences were kept fully manned by some 40,000 soldiers for the duration of the war.
During World War II, Copenhagen was occupied by German troops along with the rest of the country from April 9, 1940 until their surrender at Lüneburg Heath on May 4, 1945.
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| People celebrating the liberation of Denmark at Strøget in Copenhagen |
Apprentice barbers in Copenhagen staged the longest strike in history from 1938 to 1961.
The Copenhagen Metro, the underground railway system, opened in 2000.
In 2009, Copenhagen was top of the ranking of the richest cities in the world in terms of gross earnings It has since dropped from first place, but is still considered one of the major financial centres of Northern Europe.
.
Lucinda Williams wrote a song titled “Copenhagen” about the death of her former manager Frank Carrali while she was away on tour in the Danish capital.
Some 37% of Copenhagen's citizens cycle to work, school or universit.
Source Wikipedia
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