Copenhagen City Overview
Copenhagen, the largest city in Scandinavia, has preserved an attractive small town atmosphere with its gabled houses, narrow streets and delicate turrets.
The pretty, well-kept Copenhagen is one of the greenest European capitals: a large part of the city center consists of pedestrian zones, there are strict guidelines against pollution and often you see more bicycles than cars on the streets. Green spaces – including the world-famous Tivoli – abound and in summer street cafes and restaurants are very popular.
Copenhagen has numerous theaters, museums and a surprisingly lively nightlife. Danish film is attracting increasing attention in the international film business and Danish furniture, technology and jewelry are among the best of contemporary design.
Important facts
Area code: ++ 45 (Denmark); Copenhagen has no area code, you dial eight-digit numbers.
Population: 1,346,485
Latitude: 55.676270
Longitude: 12.569294
City History of Copenhagen
Canals, lakes and the sea form the backdrop for today’s Copenhagen and remind of the rich past as an important port city on the Baltic Sea. This role is also reflected in the name of the city, København, a derivative of købmanne hafen , which means dealer harbor .
The city was founded by Bishop Absalon, who had a bastion built on the island of Slotsholmen in 1167, where Christiansborg Palace is today, the seat of the Danish Parliament.
In 1417, the city became the royal capital of a very large Scandinavian area, which included not only Denmark but also parts of Sweden and Norway.
Many of the most impressive buildings in Copenhagen were built during the reign of Christian IV (1588-1648). Børsen (stock exchange), Rundetårn (round tower) and Rosenborg Castle are among the surviving testimonials of the monarch’s great building projects. The Christian Canal network was created under Christian IV and Christianshavn was built on – an island opposite the inner harbor, which is mainly used for the city’s trade and shipping.
In the centuries that followed, the outbreak of the plague, two devastating fires, military attacks by the Swedes (in the 17th century) and the British (in the 19th century) caused extensive damage to the city. The city center of Copenhagen is therefore characterized by buildings from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
In the 20th century, Denmark became internationally known for its contemporary designers. Arne Jakobsen’s furniture adorns cool bars and cafes around the world. In the city, Christian IV’s architectural heritage is complemented by bold, modern buildings, including the shiny, seafront extension to the Royal Library, also known as the ‘Black Diamond’, as well as the Opera House, and more recently new playhouse and the Copenhagen concert hall.
The Øresund Bridge, which connects Copenhagen with Sweden and was completed in 2000, makes the city an important metropolis for Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea countries and the other European countries on the mainland.