Frederiksberg Town Hall

The town hall of this little enclave within Copenhagen, the Frederisberg Municipality Town Hall (Frederiksber Rådhus) offers a spectacular view and music from its Clock Tower.

Facts

Frederiksberg Town Hall
Source: Det Kongelige Biblioteks billedsambling

• Built: 1942-1953
• Height of the clock tower: 60 meters
• Address: Smallegade 1-3, Frederiksberg
• Telephone: +45 3821 2121

Background

Since the Frederiksberg Municipality experienced a population growth the council decided to erect a new town hall, that could provide sufficient workplace for the growing number of public servants. The architect of the building is the Danish Henning Hansen, who actually died in 1945, seven years before the town hall was inaugurated.

Interesting

A mechanic in the control door of the clock.
Source: www.taarnurmageren.dk

Shortly after the construction was begun the works had to be suspended and delayed because of the events of the Second World War. The building was only finished and opened in 1953, more than ten years after the constructions started.

Nowadays there are more than 800 public servants working in the building every day.

There is chimes every day five times from the clock tower. They play different melodies adjusted to the season at 9,12, 15, 18, and 22 o'clock. You can find the program by clicking here.

Useful hint

If you want to visit the Town Hall of Frederiksberg you can do that on the first Saturday of every month. Groups can also book other appointments for the visit. During the guided tour you have the chance to see the wedding hall, a huge painting by Sikker Hansen, the city council meeting room, the event hall, and the Clock Tower. The latter one is 60 meters tall compared to the street level.

Video about the clock tower from 1953

Copenhagen Court House

Did you know that the Court House (Københavns Byret) used to be the town hall of Copenhagen for 300 years? If not, read this article and find out more interesting facts about this neoclassical building at Nytorv, Copenhagen.

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).

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

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.