 Kongens Nytorv | |
 Interactive map of Kongens Nytorv | |
| Location | Indre By,Copenhagen,Denmark |
|---|---|
| Postal code | 1050, 1051 |
| Nearest metro station | Kongens Nytorv |
| Coordinates | 55°40′50″N12°35′09″E / 55.680563°N 12.585938°E /55.680563; 12.585938 |
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Kongens Nytorv (lit. "The King's New Square") is apublic square inCopenhagen,Denmark, centrally located at the end of thepedestrian streetStrøget. The largest square of the city, it was laid out byChristian V in 1670 in connection with a major extension of the fortified city, and has anequestrian statue of him at its centre. The initiative moved the centre of the city from the medieval area aroundGammeltorv, at that time a muddy medievalmarketplace, to acobbled new square with a garden complex, inspired by the Royal city planning seen inParis from the early 17th century.[1]
Important buildings facing the square include theRoyal Danish Theater from 1874, theCharlottenborg Palace from 1671 (now theRoyal Danish Academy of Fine Arts), theThott Palace from 1683 (now theFrench Embassy), theHotel D'Angleterre and theMagasin du Nord department store.
In the beginning of the 17th century, the area later to become Kongens Nytorv was located outside theFortifications of Copenhagen, as the eastern section of the ramparts,Østervold, ran along the western edge of the current square, with the eastern city gate,Østerport, located at the end of the streetØstergade. Outside the gate, an undulating terrain extended towards the sea. As part ofChristian IV's ambitious plans to strengthen Copenhagen as a regional centre, he wanted to double the area of the fortified city, he acquired 200 hectares of land outside Østerport in 1606. To protect the new city district, calledNew Copenhagen (Danish: Ny København) orSaint Anne's Town (Danish: Sankt Annæ By), he started construction of aredoubt,Saint Anne's Post (Danish: Sankt Annæ Skanse), at the site later to become Kastellet. In 1627 acustoms house was added at the site. In the beginning of the 1640s the old Østervold was abandoned altogether in favour of the new ramparts further north, and the location of the King's new square, Kongens Nytorv, was decided in 1647 with the construction of the streetGothersgade in 1647. According to a masterplan from created by the fortification engineer Axel Urups, Kongens Nytorv was to be connected to the sea by a canal.[1]
At this time, under the reign ofFrederik III, the site was a chaotic area, dominated by remains of the oldramparts and piles of garbage, almost made unpassable when wet weather transformed it into a muddymorass. Due to the topography and obstructed character of the premises, the site was popularly known asHallandsåsen, a reference to thehorst by the same name which had to be traversed when traveling fromScania andHalland.[1]
Shortly after Christian V was crowned in 1670, he decided to level and cobble the square. This decision was taken mainly for military reasons, its strategic location with almost the same distance to all points along the ramparts of the city making it well suited as a central alarm square. At the same time, the square was to serve as aplace royale with inspiration from France.[2]
Land around the new square was distributed among interested wealthy citizens, including people from the new ranks. Buildings facing the square were required to be in at least two stories and meet certain standards.Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Christian V's half-brother, completed hisGyldenløve Mansion on the square in the mid-1780s. AdmiralHenrik Bjelke constructed another town mansion on the square in the 1670s. It was in 1721 acquired byUlrik Adolf von Holstein and was from then on known as the Holstein Mansion (Danish: Holsteins Palæ).[3] TheJuel Mansion was completed for the naval officerNiels Juel in 1683.Carl Christian von Gram was also the owner of a town mansion of the square.
In 1688, aBaroque garden complex with trees around a parterre and a gilded equestrian statue of Christian V in its centre, was inaugurated. In 1747 the entire square was rebuilt byFrederik V as a military drill and ceremony ground for the King's troops until 1908, where the square was re-shaped into its original design.
Theequestrian statue of Christian V was created by the FrenchsculptorAbraham-César Lamoureux. Dating from 1688, it is the oldest equestrian statue inScandinavia.[1] Originally made ingildedlead, it was recast inbronze 1939.
With direct inspiration from the equestrian statue ofLouis XIII erected at the centre ofPlace des Vosges in Paris in 1639,[1] it depicts the king dressed like aRoman imperator with aLaurel wreathedhelmet.
At the foot of theplinth, Lamoureux placed fourallegorical statues. Facing Charlottenborg Palace stand figures ofMinerva andAlexander the Great, representingprudence andfortitude, while the opposite side features statues ofHerkules andArtemisia, personifications ofstrength andhonour.
Even though Lamoureux depicted the horse in atrot-likegait, with inspiration fromMarcus Aurelius' horse at theCapitoline Hill, the design caused severe problems due to the soft metal used for the casting. The construction therefore had to be strengthened, and Lamoureux introduced a figure of a naked man crouched underneath the horse's hoof, personifyingenvy but in the same time affording support for the horse's barrel as the weakest point of the statue. However, over the centuries the problems with the statue continued, particularly with the horse's front left leg, and finally ProfessorEinar Utzon-Frank from theDanish Academy of Fine Arts was commissioned to recast the statue in bronze. This happened from 1939 to 1942 and the new cast was inaugurated on 22 May 1946.
Krinsen is an old form of the Danish word Krans, meaningcircle orwreath. It is anellipticalparterre surrounding the statue of Christian V. The ellipse was a favoured geometrical shape at the time, an obvious example bing the elliptical pattern in the paving around the Marcus Aurelius statue atPiazza del Campidoglio. Around the parterre, two rows of trees were planted. In 1711, the garden complex was remodelled, before it was given up in 1747 the garden was removed to make room for military drills, with some of the trees being dug altogether up, leaving only the equestrian statue. Some of the trees were dug up and reused for the establishment of the avenue Østre Allé. New rows ofelm trees were planted around the statue in 1855–56, but by 1998 they were dying fromDutch elm disease and removed. In 2001, 80lime trees were planted as part of a major refurbishment of the square.
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On the square stands an oldkiosk and telephone stand from 1913. It is built inBaroque Revival style with a copper-clad roof and hand-carved ornamentation. It also used to offer the firstpublic telephonic connection in Copenhagen from where it was possible to call every day except Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm.[2] Today it houses a small café with outdoor service.
Built 1672–1683,Charlottenborg Palace is the oldest building on the square. It is now home to theRoyal Danish Academy of Fine Arts as well as the exhibition spaceKunsthal Charlottenborg.
TheHarsdorff House (No. 3-5) was built in 1780 to design byCaspar Frederik Harsdorff. The building's facade was to serve as a model for the many master builders of the time who had little or no academic training.
TheRoyal Danish Theatre's current building (No. 1) is from 1872 to 1874 and was designed byWilhelm Dahlerup. ItsArt Nouveau-style 1931 extensionStærekassen, which spans the street Tordenskjoldsgade, was built both as an extension of the theatre and a new home forDanmarks Radio.
TheThott Mansion (No. 4) is from 1683 and is now home to theFrench Embassy. No. 8 was built forA. P. Moller-Maersk Group in 10+9 and the shipping company was headquartered in the building until 1979.Jyllands-Posten's Copenhagen office was then based in the building until 2010.
TheLihme House (No. 18) is from 1787.
No. 26 was built for theGreat Northern Telegraph Company in 1898. The company was headquartered in the building until 2008. The building is from 1767.Hotel D'Angleterre (No. 34) is one of the oldest and most prestigious hotels in Copenhagen. The current building is from 1874)
Magasin du Nord (No. 13), a leading department, opened in 1893–94.Hviids Vinstue (No. 19) is the oldest tavern in Copenhagen.
The square is frequently used as an open-air exhibition venue, especially for photo exhibitions.
In winter a 2,200 m2 (23,681 sq ft) circularice skating rink is constructed around Krinsen. Skating is free of charge and ice skate rental is available.
As an old tradition, graduating high school students from the Copenhagen area, when they graduate in June, come to Kongens Nytorv in buses, trucks or horse wagons to dance and run around Krinsen, throwing theirgraduation caps into the air, celebrating their graduation.
55°40′49″N12°35′9″E / 55.68028°N 12.58583°E /55.68028; 12.58583
