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| Source: www.rundetaarn.dk |
The Round Tower (Rundetårn), the centre of Denmark
If
you’re planning a visit to Copenhagen, be sure to include the Round Tower on
your itinerary. In fact, put it on the top of your list! This structure is
something you can’t miss, and here is why.
Round Tower Tourism
On
your trip to Denmark, be visit the Round Tower. The view from the top of the
tower will give you a good idea of the streets below, so you can get an
overview of the entire city. The tower has been drawing tourists for centuries.
In 1716, Tsar Peter the Great of Russia traveled hundreds of miles on horseback
to visit the observatory.
History of the Tower
Like many buildings in
Copenhagen, the round tower is quite antiquated. It was built between 1637 and
1642 by Denmark’s King Christian IV. The building was originally a church,
observatory, and library. Copenhagen was once well known for its advancements
in astronomy, and the tower was used as for observing the heavens. It was also
used to measure air temperature and pressure, so one might say that it was the
first weather station in Denmark! Today, scientists no longer use the
observatory, although amateur still love to watch the stars there.
Architecture
The Round Tower was
inspired by Tycho Brahe, one the fathers of astronomy. He envisioned the tower
as a university observatory. Sadly, he died in 1601, 40 years before the tower
was completed. The tower was designed by Hans van Steenwinckel, who strove to
create something both beautiful and functional. His idea was to streamline the
tower by creating the complex in a focused and restrained style. The tower is
not nearly as tall as today’s skyscrapers, but it was massive for its time,
standing at 24,8 meters. It is built in a cylindrical fashion, with a spiraling
walkway around the tower’s empty core. Outside, the tower contains red and
yellow bricks that were imported from the Netherlands.
The Core of the Tower
In the center of the tower
is the famous core. This empty space is important both geographically and
economically. Many tourists come to the tower to stand on the sturdy glass
floor, which is suspended 25 meters above the ground below. Visitors can stand
on the glass and peer between their feet to see the center of the tower far
below. When Denmark was triangulated in the 1760s, this core was used as point
zero.
Now that you know the
basic history of the tower, be sure to visit during your trip to Denmark and
learn even more! There is so much fascinating history and information that
centers on this structure. Don’t miss it!
If you decide to visit the
Round Tower, here are some things you should know. The tower’s address is Købmagergade
52A. If you need help finding it, you can call +45 33 73 03 73. Their website
is www.rundetaarn.dk/en/, and their
email is post@rundetaarn.dk. The
entrance fee to visit the tower is DKK 25 for adults and DKK 5 for children
under 15.
Video
Article by Breana Johnson
