Friday, October 31, 2014

Church of Holmen

The church which is famous for being the venue where the Queen of Denmark had her wedding ceremony and for being the burial site for many famous Danish heroes.

Facts:
Source: www.kb.dk



  • Built: 1563
  • Converted to a church: 1619
  • Address: Holmens Kanal 21, København K, 1060
  • Website: www.holmenskirke.dk


A little island

Holmen was a little island close to the centre of Copenhagen in the medieval times. Later in the 16th century constructions works started and the island was turned into a peninsula surrounded by the Holmens Canal. In the 19th century this canal was filled up, and the new street preserved the name Holmens Kanal.

Anchore forge and later church

Interior of the church today
Source: www.holmenskirke.dk
The Church of Holmen (Holmens Kirke) lies near the street called Holmens Kanal, in the centre of Copenhagen. It was built in the 16th century to forge anchors for vessels. However, later in the 17th century king Christian IV converted the building to a naval church belonging to the Danish lutheran denomination.
The first church looked not much different from the forge in 1619. However, later on in 1641 the building was rebuilt in a cruciform church. 

Interesting

Even though the great fire and the siege of Copenhagen by the English did not damage the church significantly, the Swedish assault in 1658 left a mark on the building: a cannonball is still visible in the plinth of the northern side of the choir. 


Royal wedding between Marghrete and Henrik