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| A postcard from 1910 with the present Court House at Nytorv. Source: www.indenforvoldene.dk |
Facts
- Built: 1805-1815
- Style: neoclassicism
- Adress: Domhuset, Nytorv, 1450 København K
- Web: www.domstol.dk
Town hall for 300 years
King Christian IV modernised the city centre and Nytorv in the beginning of the 17th century. Then it was decided that the newly erected town hall of Copenhagen will also serve as the city court. The first town hall and court house was built in the Dutch renaissance style (like Rosenborg Castle). Unfortunately the great fire of Copenhagen destroyed the old building in 1795. Hence, it was decided to build a new building with the same joint functions (city hall and court).
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| The first Court House and Town Hall was burnt down in 1795. Source: www.copenhagenet.dk |
The present Court House
After the fire the constructions started in 1805 and the building was only completed in 1815 because of material shortage and the siege of the city by the British in 1807 during the napoleonic wars. The new building was designed in neoclassical style with a beautiful tympanon and Ionian columns. The designer was the Danish professor and architect C. F. Hansen (he also planned the Church of our Saviour).
The tympanon
Above the Ionian columns you can see the neoclassical tymoanon with the inscription: "Med lov skal man land bygge" ( With law the country shall be built). This is a quotation from the Jutlandic law Valdemar the Victorious from 1241.
One function
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| The tympanon of the present Court House. Source: www.visitcopenhagen.com |
In 1905, when the new town hall was finished the city council moved from the Court House to the present Københavns Rådhus at Rådhuspladsen. Since then the Court House has one sole function, the City Court for Copenhagen. This is the largest of the 24 city courts in Denmark.
Movie venue
In the famous Scandinavian series Broen (The Brige) this court house is being used during the trial of a policeman who is accused of abusing a man to death.
