Benhagen, literally meaning "merchant's harbor" in Danish. English is Copenhagen Copenhagen's founder is recognized as the Archbishop of Absalon (Absalon), his golden statue hangs on the wall of the City Hall. 1254 Copenhagen was granted the right to the city, but really became the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark in 1443. King Christian IV was committed to turning Copenhagen into the most beautiful metropolis in Northern Europe, and during his reign (1588-1684), not only did he build many palaces, but he also planned the city as a whole, dug a network of canals in the city, and built docks. Many places, harbors and castles were named after him. These plans and designs were largely influenced by the Dutch, and the Dutch style can be seen in everything from the architecture of the city to the layout of the river. Some of the most famous buildings that remain today are the Old Exchange, the Round Tower and the Rose Castle. In the following centuries, Copenhagen was plagued by plagues, fires and destruction by Swedish and English invaders. The development of Copenhagen did not stop there, and in the 19th century the city's population grew rapidly and the city expanded, making Copenhagen the most prosperous city in Northern Europe. The world-famous Danish writer H.C. Andersen (1805-1875) came to Copenhagen when he was 14 years old and lived there most of the time, except for his travels. Due to his frequent moves, there are more than a dozen places in the city where he used to live, but there is not a single well-preserved residence. Statues honoring the great fairy tale writer can be found next to the City Hall and in the garden of the Rose Castle. Main attractions: The Little Mermaid (Den Lille Havfrue) is Copenhagen's iconic statue. The statue is based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Daughter of the Sea". The statue was completed in 1913 by the Danish sculptor Eriksen and funded by Carlsberg Brewery founder Jacobsen. In the fairy tale, the Little Mermaid sits on a rocky outcrop on the seashore and gazes across the harbor. The statue has had its ups and downs and has often been the target of boredom. It has been stolen or destroyed several times. Most recently, in September 2003, it was pushed into the sea. Fortunately, the original casting molds remain, allowing the statue to be restored. Gefion Fountain, in the center of the fountain is a group of sculptures, built in 1908, also donated by Carlsberg. The statues represent a mythological story about the formation of Zealand, the island on which Copenhagen is situated. Legend has it that the goddess Geffen received permission from King Golfo to dig a piece of land for her in his territory (today's Sweden). But the king only gave him a day and a night to dig as much as he wanted. Geffen turned his four sons into four oxen and struggled to pull the dug-up land out to sea, forming the present-day island of Zealand. The land that Sweden lost became Lake Vittern. Tivoli is Copenhagen's oldest amusement park, opened to the public in 1843. The park was initially used as a venue for parties and dance performances. After hundreds of years of construction, the park has become one of the most famous amusement parks in Scandinavia. The park has a variety of entertainment facilities, an amphitheater for various performances, a theater, a cinema, a concert hall and the largest zoo and aquarium in Northern Europe. There is also a Chinese-style pavilion in the park. There are also fireworks displays every Saturday evening in the summer. Website: www.tivoli.dk City Hall Square (R?dhuspladsen) Square is Copenhagen's largest gathering square. The main building in the square, the Town Hall, was built in 1892-1905 and has a bronze statue of Archbishop Absalom, the founder of the city of Copenhagen, on the main entrance wall. The clock tower of the town hall is 105.6 meters high and has a panoramic view of the city. Inside the tower is the famous astronomical clock, which is so precise that it not only tells the time accurately, but also shows the positions of the planets. Next to the City Hall, there is a bronze statue of Hans Christian Andersen, holding his fairy tale books and looking sideways at the park across the street. The fountain in the square, which was built in 1923, is next to the Danish kilometer zero highway milestone. Christiansborg, so named because it was originally the palace of King Christian VI, was built in 1167, then destroyed by fire and rebuilt five times. The present palace was built in 1907-1908. Since 1849 it has housed the Danish Parliament, the High Court and the Government. The palace also retains a welcoming hall for the royal family, where official Danish diplomatic events are held. The square outside the palace is called Kristiansborg Square, in the center of which is the statue of King Frederik VII of Sweden. In the center of the square is a statue of King Frederick VII of Sweden. Next to the square is the Ancient Bourse, a Dutch Renaissance building constructed in 1619. It is topped by the unique Dragon's Tail Tower, with four dragon's tails coiled around the pointed roof. King's New Square (Kongens Nytorv), Copenhagen's main traffic artery. In the center is the statue of the square's founder, King Christian V, erected in 1688 when the square was completed. The oldest buildings around the square are Charlottenburg Palace, built in 1670, which is now the Royal Academy of Arts. Next to it is the Royal Theater, where the Royal Danish Ballet performs. Nyhavn, as it is called, is actually an old canal way that is more than 330 years old. At that time, the canal was dug so that ships could carry their cargo directly to the King's New Square. Today, the colorful houses along the banks of the canal have retained their original appearance and have attracted many famous people to live here. Hans Christian Andersen lived at number 20, where he wrote his first world-famous fairy tale. He also lived in apartments 18 and 67. Today, although the sailboats in the new marina can no longer sail out of the canal, they are a unique sight in Copenhagen, and the lively restaurants, bars and cafes along the shoreline attract a large number of tourists. Especially in the summer evenings, it's a lively place to visit. Amalienborg Amalienborg Palace consists of four identical buildings surrounding Amalienborg Square, which is now the seat of the Danish Royal Palace. It was first the residence of four noblemen, but after the palace, Christiansborg, was destroyed by fire in 1794, the Danish royal family moved here and it became the official residence of the royal family. The square is not very big, and in the center is the statue of King Frederik V of Denmark, which was built in 1768. The changing of the guard takes place every day at noon. One part of the Amalienborg Palace is a museum, open to the public as part of the Royal Museum of Roseburg. Website: www.amalienborgmuseet.dk The Marble Chapel (Marmorkirken) is located to the west of the Amalienborg Palace Square. Formally known as Frederik's Church, it is Denmark's largest domed church, built in 1749 to commemorate the tercentenary of the Oldenburg royal family's rule in Denmark, but completed in 1894, more than a century later, for financial reasons. The church is surrounded by 32 statues on the base and upper balustrade, all of which are Biblical characters and famous clergymen. The interior of the church is circular, with a tall vault 30 meters in diameter and 40 meters high. The vaults are decorated with 12 zenithal paintings depicting the twelve apostles of Jesus. The new Operahus, a modern building with large glass windows and a flat roof, has become a new landmark in Copenhagen, built on the water. Completed in January 2005, the new Opera House was designed by renowned Danish architect Larsen at a cost of DKK 2.5 billion by the Maersk Group, Denmark's most famous transportation and oil company. The theater has nine floors above ground and five below, and has a capacity of 1,400 spectators. Rosenborg Slot consists of a castle and gardens. The garden was built by King Christian IV in 1606 and was called the King's Garden. The royal summer residence was built next to the gardens. The five-storey Dutch Renaissance building was completed in 1633. Later King Frederick had it taken away because it was too small, and it was converted into the Royal Treasure House. Today, the museum is open to the public and displays diamond crowns, precious jewelry and ivory artifacts from the royal collection. Website: www.rosenborgslot.dk Carlsberg Breweries Carlsberg Breweries is a famous Danish beer brand, here you can learn about the history of the brewery and the brewing process. The brewery was first founded by Jacobsen in 1847 and is now the fifth largest beer group in the world. Jacobsen was not only an entrepreneur, but he also made a great contribution to Danish culture. He has financed the construction and preservation of many old Danish buildings, collected many European works of art for display in his museums, and sponsored cultural programs.
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