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Online
Sightseeing - Copenhagen
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The
Old Citadel (Kastellet) |
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Citadel was completed around 1664 and named Frederikshavn
Citadel. The area around the old fortress is a popular venue
for Copenhageners and tourists, and the buildings houses
the Danish Defence Intelligence. The English Church is seen
below beside the Gefion Fountain. © Photo - Jørgen
Bresson. |
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The
Old Citadel
The Citadel was first established by King Christian
IV in 1626 to protect Copenhagen from the
Seaside. The fortress is Europe's oldest military bastion and still
in operation. This military complex was completed in 1660s
and was a part of Copenhagen's rampart. The Fortress Park is a typical
renaissance fortification with five bastions that served as a defence
installation until the mid 19th century. Most of the buildings in
the old Citadel are still intact from the period of King Frederik
III (1658-1660) and are the head quarters of the Danish Defence
Intelligence. |
| The
main road at the Citadel in 1865 with the Kings gate at the
back in classic baroque style and the old barracks that served
as army head quarters. |
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| The
original and well decorated Kings gate from 1662-63 with the
sculpture of King Frederik III. All traffic went through this
guarded gate in the past. |
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| The
Kings gate with the Queens and the Counts bastions on each side
of the gate. |
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| Arial
view of the old Citadel from 1626. The fortress is one of the
best preserved in Europe |
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The
ongoing construction and rebuilding
King Christian IV had also planned to build a castle on the Citadel
premises but the project was suspended due to the Kings financial
situation and construction of the Citadel was continued by his son
and successor King Frederik III with help by the Dutch architect and
engineer Henrik Rüse. After the Swedish attack and assault of
Copenhagen 1658-1660 the Bastions of the Citadel
was rebuilt to better resist bombardments - mortars and other artillery.
Last the Citadel of Copenhagen was in use was during the heavy battle
of the city against the Royal British Fleet in 1807.
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| The
Citadel Church in 1890 with the exercise grounds in front. In
1902 the Church became a parish of its own with a local community
and belongs to the Danish State Church called "Folkekirken",
but still serves the present military administrative personal. |
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| The
Citadel church is built during 1703-04 and is decorated with
King Frederik IV's monogram on the front wall. The prison is
built behind the church and until 1840 prisoner could follow
the services through a hole in the wall. |
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The
Church and Prison
The Church at the Citadel (Kastellet) was built in 1704
in heavy Baroque style during the reign of King Frederik IV
(1671-1730 – ruled Denmark and Norway 1699-1730), who extended
the church with a prison-complex at the back of the building in 1725.
Between the walls of the prison and church there were holes to the
prisoner’s cells so the inmates could follow the church services.
A prominent prisoner at the Citadel prison was Count Johann
Friedrich von Struensee (1737-1772), who was a German doctor
and royal physician to the schizophrenic King Christian VII
(1749-1808 – ruled Denmark and Norway 1766-1808). Struensee’s
affair with Queen Caroline Matilda (1751-1775) and
his increasing political power caused his downfall and dramatic execution
by being beheaded in 1772 after being a prisoner
at the Citadel.
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| On
the rampart is the original windmill from 1847 that replaced
the first mill from 1718. The Citadel had its own bakery and
the mill supplied the flour and dough for bread baking until
1908. |
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| Of
94 cannons produced in Denmark from the period 1766-1769,
three 12-pounder bronze cannons are still placed on the Princesses
bastion as historical and decorative monuments. |
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Walk
around the rampart and eat “Hveder”
Tourists
can visit these popular historical areas and walk around the ramparts
that once protected the city and at the same time see the harbour
and city skyline from another view. For Copenhageners a great tradition
once a year is to stroll around the ramparts the day before The
Day of Prayer (Store Bededag). After the walk people eat
a special type of wheat buns made of year called “Hveder”
and drink tee or coffee with it. |
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Open-Air
Ballet
The Danish Royal Ballet performs every August in open-air at the Citadel
(Kastellet), where the historical surrounding are a perfect scenery
for this special event. |
Location
The Old Citadel is a peaceful military area and a historical monument
and park from 1626. The area is open to the public
and a great tourist attraction located on the old fortifications of
Copenhagen nearby The Little Mermaid – Langelinie
Quay – Gefion Fountain – The
Resistance Museum – English Church and
Amalienborg Palaces. |
The
Old Citadel (Kastellet)
Address
Kastellet - The Old Citadel
2100 Copenhagen Ø
Busses:
15 - 26 - 1A - 20E - 865
Trains
- Østerport Station
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