It’s all so close but still so easy to miss
Exciting things happen as long as you look up slightly. Shop windows certainly attract when you stroll around Copenhagen. But a lot happens just a few meters above. Not least right above the main doors, it usually hides something interesting. I will show some exciting examples.
The falling angel
Next to the Royal Theater on Kongens Nytorv is the richly decorated Brönnum’s House. The building housed, among other things, a very popular theater cafe where celebrities such as H.C. Andersen was often seen. Hirschprung, who was great in art, also had a residence here in the upper floors.
But now to the falling angel. During the construction of the house, a serious accident occurred: A 19-year-old bricklayer’s apprentice fell from the scaffolding and lost his life. So in memory of this tragic event, it was decided to let one of the adorning angels simply “trip”. You can see it high up on the facade.
August Bournonvilles Passage 1

Tivoli’s founder’s residence
Georg Carstensen asked King Christian 8 for permission to build an amusement park, inspired by London’s so-called Vauxhall Gardens, on the old ramparts. “When the people are having fun, it doesn’t politicize”, he argued, and it made an impression on Christian 8. From 1843, Carstensen was given the license for 5 years in København or one of the city’s suburbs to build a so-called Tivoli under the name of Kjøbenhavns Tivoli og Vauxhall, and on August 15, 1843, Tivoli opened its doors for the first time.
Gammel Strand 40

The old salvage company
Em. Z. Svitzers Bjergnings Enterprise had it´s office here. At the start in 1833, the company’s equipment consisted of a cutter, a collar dinghy and a rowing boat with 12 oars, which was stationed in Kastrup on Amager. In 1842, the first professional diving equipment was purchased from England.
Today the company is part of the Mærsk group.
Are you interested in other exciting buildings in Copenhagen? Click here.
Kvæsthusgade 1

The sugar refinery in Nyhavn
The figure above the gate carries a sugar form and sugar top. It dates from the time when the Römer Sugar Refinery was located here.
Nyhavn 11

The stationary store
Christian Petersens papirhandel with accounting books carved in granite on the facade!
Store Kirkestræde 1

The old oriental trading company
The sign tells us that oriental goods were sold here, including tea and porcelain. It was merchant Jørgen Alsing, who started here in 1765.
These signs also served as house markers before street addresses were introduced.
Nyhavn 15

Badeanstalten København
Now it is a fashionable hotel but long before it was a modern bathhouse. The concept was taken from Sweden and introduced to the Copenhageners in 1903.
If you look up in front of the building, you also can see the word “RENLIGHED” (cleanliness) high up on the facade! Inside the hotel there are still traces of the time when this was a temple of cleanliness.
Here you can see how the building looks on the inside today.
Studiestræde 59-63

The red hat
Over at Store Kannikestræde there is a sign with a distinguished red old hat. I’ve actually passed by here so many times without spotting it! By the way, along this street there is more exciting to discover just above the entrance doors, look around!
From the hat, it is only a minute’s walk to Runde Taarn.
Store Kannikestræde

The Mercury sculpture
If you can take your eyes off all the shop windows when you walk along the shopping street Købmagergade, you will soon see the god of trade and commerce high up in the sky.
Købmagergade 42

Copenhagen fire 1728
The fire in Copenhagen in the 18th century caused great devastation. Here is a sign (from 1732) above a door on Gråbrødretorv that mention the event.
It says, among other things: What the fire has consumed God has foretold.
Gråbrødretorv 1

Solar power in the city
When it comes to measures for the environment, many experiments are carried out. Here, two buildings have been combined with a structure that carries solar panels.
Eriksgade

Chr. IX gade
Here on the house gable, right at one corner of the king’s garden, you will find this impressive work that really stands out.
Chr. IX gade 7

The brewer and his wife
It is easy to miss J.C. Jacobsen and his wife Ottilia as they stand looking out over the Carlsberg historic brewery area.
Elefantporten, Carlsberg Byen

Another house on the roof
High above the tourist-dense area around Nyhavn, someone has found peace with this impressive extension. The fact that it also faces the canal does not make the location any less impressive…
High above the tourist-dense area around Nyhavn, someone has found peace with this impressive extension. The fact that it also faces the canal does not make the location any less impressive…
Havnegade

The black raven
The building was built by steersman and beer bottler Christian Wendelboe. The black raven is his brand.
Nyhavn 14-16

The 17th century sign on Faksegade
This very large sign belonged to the craftsman’s guild and signaled their existence and the possibility of accommodation for like-minded people.
Faksegade
