The Round Tower Copehagen

The introduction

Hello everyone, I hope, that you are all doing just fine!

In this article I want to tell you about the Round Tower, which is located in Copenhagen, Denmark and if you are visiting Copenhagen you must really take your time and go and see the Round Tower.

To be honest, I didn’t really know about the Round Tower in Copenhagen and it was not in my plans to visit the Rundetaarn, so that I didn’t even search for it, I must say. However, it’s good, that I got to know about the Round Tower soon enough to make some plans to visit it and enjoy the view from up above, because anyone would be astonished, how beautiful Copenhagen is from up there.

It was this day, when we went to the Studenterhuset, when I got to know about the Round Tower. It was not very late, I mean, it was just the third day of me being in Copenhagen or something like that, so that it was not that big of a deal not to know about the Round Tower. It was then, when we walked past the Round Tower that Kathrine or someone else mentioned the Round Tower, and we all looked up at it and saw this tall round building, which was kind of strange and didn’t resemble the buildings around. To tell you the truth, I got to know after that, that it was a Dutch Baroque architecture that the Round Tower was built. And I know, that kings of Denmark and especially Christian IV loved Dutch architecture, and he did try to have some buildings built like Dutch.

It was then, when someone suggested visiting the Rundetaarn and going up there, however, we were going to other place, I mean, the Studenterhuset, and we had some plans already, so that we decided not to go to the Round Tower at that time and perhaps we would get there some other time, though we could easily get there, because it was not going close yet, and it was not going to be closed until 8 p. m.

About the Round Tower

The Round Tower is one of the best-known structures of Denmark and since 1642 visitors have been able to enjoy the view from the above. It’s a beautiful thing to see the whole Copenhagen city from up above and though it’s not that high the Round Tower, it’s still offering an amazing view of the capital of Denmark.

It’s called Rundetaarn in Danish and so if you want to find its web page, you must write that on Google. There you can get more information about the Round Tower.

The Round Tower is located in the middle of Copenhagen and its address is Købmagergade 52A, 1150 København K. you should know, that the Rundetaarn is the oldest functioning observatory in Europe, so that you might want to visit it because of that.

You know, it’s not just a tower or something there, it’s the history living inside and though you may not find the Round Tower very fancy and amazing from the inside or outside, even, you will still be excited while being there.

The Round Tower was built in 1637-42 years by King Christian IV and it was the Trinity Complex, which was to be there in that territory and the tower was the first part of the Trinity Complex, and this Complex brought together an astronomical observatory, a student church and a university library.

Well, there was this famous Danish astronomer called Tycho Brahe, who died in 1601and the King Christian IV wanted to continue his research, so that’s why he wanted to build the Round Tower.

It was a functioning observatory since then, however, it’s been a while since the scientists left working there and despite that fact it’s still functioning by amateur astronomers and, of course, it has many visitors, who pay money for a visit, and it’s not very cheap. If you are a child, you can pay 5 DKK, but for adults it’s 25 DKK, so that, it’s not that cheap to pay a visit to the Round Tower. However, if you have a Copenhagen Card, then the visit is free.

There’s this unique Spiral Ramp in the Round Tower, which is the only way up to the platform. It is 209 meters long and twists 7. 5 times around the hollow core. Well, to be honest, it’s better to be that way, because, I think, that’s the only round tower I’ve seen, which doesn’t have steps all the way up to the platform. Rather, it has this ramp and you can just walk and walk until you get to the top and it’s way easier and comfortable, than going on stairs, which may be very dangerous, because you can’t really make the stairs all the same and with the comfortable height and things like that. It’s like, you just walk and you slowly get up higher and higher and the next thing you know is, that you are on top of the Round Tower, looking at the city of Copenhagen and enjoying the view.

The tower is 34. 8 meters high and once soared far above the rest of the rooftops in the city. Its original purpose as astronomical observatory is still active, and visitors can gaze at the cosmos through the Observatory’s telescope from 1929.

Halfway up the tower, there is access to the Library Hall. Originally it served as university library until 1861. Today the hall accommodates art exhibitions and souvenir shop, of course. You can see many souvenirs in the Round Tower shop and it’s all those small Round Tower things along with the Copenhagen Guard and the famous tourist attractions and the Little Mermaid, of course. Though, the prices are pretty high, not because it’s the Round Tower souvenir shop, but because the prices of souvenirs are pretty high almost everywhere, I guess. it’s like 5 Euros for just a refrigerator magnet.

The Bell-Ringer Loft above the Library Hall displays a collection of historical items and offers a direct view of the pinewood beams, dated 1729.

At the top of the Round Tower’s façade is a gill rebus designed by Christian IV himself. The rebus can be interpreted as follows: Guide God, proper learning and justice into the heart of the crowned Christian IV, 1642.

The Round Tower is a listed building and open for visitors 362 days a year.

You know, the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen liked to visit the library and he found some inspiration there to write.

Photo gallery