Momboisse Family Adventures Baltic Sea - Copenhagen, Denmark (June 4, 2011)

We took this 9-Day Baltic Sea cruise of  Scandinavia and Russia in 2011. Originally this information was part of a travel blog.  The travel blog was discontinued.  As this was my original writing, I have taken my information and uploaded it to my blog site.  Though the information is almost seven years old, Norwegian is still offering the same cruise we took, so I am sure this information is still pertinent.  

Momboisse Family Adventures Baltic Sea
Free Day in Copenhagen
Weather - Sunny 68 F
Sunrise 4:30am - Sunset 9:47pm
June 4, 2011

We arrived at the Freeport Cruise Terminal very early in the morning and had seven hours before we were due back to embark on our cruise.  Of course we used this time to explore Copenhagen. Our self-guided tour starts at Freeport Cruise Terminal.  Note though, there are other cruise terminals now. 

From Freeport Cruise Terminal follow the "Blue Line" (about 4 miles) to the S-tog at Nordhavn Station.  Purchase S-tog ticket from the clerk at the convenience store across from the station or at automated kiosks.  Ride two stops to Nørreport Station and exit to a sea of colorful bicycles. Everyone rides bikes here.  Not sure if they are actually owned by anyone, or provided by the government and just ridden and discarded.  
  

We are headed to the center of Copenhagen, the old town, colorful, cobbled, and quaint.  Our walk to this section took us from Nørreport down Købmagergade past some rather ugly tagging.  

Tagging was an unfortunate sight we would witness throughout this beautiful city, an unnecessary addition we eventually chose to ignore.  

Even works of art were tagged.  Possible artists signature?? 

Our first stop, the Rundetårn Round Tower and Trinitatis Kirke (church).  Built in 1642 by Christian IV, the tower is still used today as an observatory and connects to the church which is now used as a Common National Church.

The second King of Denmark, Harald I was baptized Catholic in 960. The country remained Catholic until King Christian III made Lutheranism the state religion in 1534.  Churches built before 1534 were stripped of their statues and many paintings were painted over.  

It was well worth the 25 kroner fee (6/2011) to climb the Round Tower.  The long spiral ramp is wide enough to drive all the kings horses (and his carriage) and all the kings men to the top.

We wound our way seven times around the tower glancing out a window at each level.  The final assent to the roof top and observatory require a few dozen steps up a narrow spiral staircase.  The view, a breathtaking 360 degrees around.  

Our "spin tour" from the top of Round Tower starts with looking out over the nave of Trinitatis Kirke to the green garden of Rosenborg Slot (castle) with its green roof and spire topped towers.  Rosenborg was built in 1606 as a summer residence for Christian IV.  

From this vantage point we also see Radhuset (Town Hall), and Vor Frue Kirk (Church of Our Lady) which is the National Cathedral of Denmark.  This church was first constructed as St. Mary's under the direction of Bishop Absalom in 1187, a Catholic bishop who spent much of his life securing Denmark from foreign attacks, and is considered the founder of Copenhagen as Denmark's Baltic port.  The building of St. Mary's was finished and consecrated by Absalon's successor Bishop Peder Sunesen on Ascension Sunday in 1209, then destroyed by fire in 1314 then rebuilt.  Fire was a major factor in leveling much of medieval Copenhagen.  

The Protestant Reformation of 1517 reached Denmark in the 1520's with the support of King Christian II.  Christian III officially introduced Lutheranism to all his possessions in 1528.  The church of St. Mary's tried to maintain a Catholic resistance and by royal decree both Catholic priests and Lutheran preachers were commanded to use the church jointly. 

On December 27, 1530, backed by the majority of Copenhagen's population, a  crowd entered St. Mary's and destroyed the statues, and stripped the altars, vestments, and reliquaries - anything of value.   The name was changed from St. Mary's to Vor Frue Kirke, Our Lady's Church.  

Today Our Lady's Church is the National Cathedral of Denmark but you will find nothing related to Our Lady in this church.  

Finally we view the Vor Frelsers Kirke (Our Saviors Church), Øresund Bridge, and the clock tower of the Rådhuset which shows 11:30am and we are starving.  

After descending the tower we head back out on Købmagergade and turn left on Strøget, the heart of Copenhagen and one of Europe's longest pedestrian malls.

Now a few fundamentals of the Danish language: ny means new, torv means square, gade means street, havn means harbor, borg means castle/palace, strøget  means shop, slut means end, and fart means speed. So as we enjoy our stroll along the streets of Copenhagen we can't help but chuckle at the signs. 

At the end of the Strøget we find Kongens Nytorv (King's New Square).  Established by King Christian V who ruled Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699.  The original statue was made in 1688 out of lead. But this sadly sagged over time and had to be recast in 1946 in bronze.

On the other side of Kongens Nytorv is Nyhavn (New Harbor).  The huge anchor commemorates the Danish sailors who died in World War II.  Past the anchor, Nyhavn is filled with quaint places to eat with inviting outdoor patios.  Nyhavn is lined with colorful buildings built between 1600 and 1700 and the harbor is filled with historic wooden ships.

We stopped for lunch at Nyhavn 17 and enjoyed a Nyhavns Platter: herring, salmon, roast beef, pickles, cheese, bread, and beer.

After lunch we take the Lille Stradstræde to Amalienborg Slotsplade the center square of the Amalienborg Palace the home of Queen Margrethe II and the Danish royal family.

From center square follow Frederiksgade and turn right on Bredgade past Alexander Nevsky Church (Russian Orthodox), and Saint Ansgars (Catholic). 

Turn right on Esplanade and pass the Fridedsmuseet (Museum of Danish Resistance) and left on Churchillparken past Saint Alban's Church (Anglican) to Gefion Fountain. 

According to legend, the king of Sweden promised to give the goddess Gefion (some mythical Scandinavian) as much land as she could plough in one night.  Gefion took the king at his word and turned her four sons into oxen and harnessed them to a plow.  Gefion then picked up the land she had plowed and threw it into the sea.  This became the island of Zealand on which Copenhagen sits on the Northeastern corner.  

Just a little backtracking as we cross over the moat and hike through the center of the Kastellet.  King Christian IV of Denmark initiated the construction of this fort in 1626.  After the Swedish siege on Copenhagen in 1658 the fort was extended and named Citadellet Frederikshavn. During World War II the German's used this as a headquarters.   If there was more time, it would have been a great place to explore!!!!  

Taking the direct route across the Kastellet turn right on Langelinie to a bronze statue by Edward Eriksen, Den Lille Havfrue (The Little Mermaid).  One of the more popular tourist stops, this statue was a gift to the City of Copenhagen in 1909 by Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of Carlsberg Brewery. 

During her stoic lifetime she has lost her head (twice), her arm, she was knocked off her base with explosives, and drenched with paint many times.  Still she remains...

From this point it is a little over one mile along Kalkbrænderihavnsgade (where do they get these names) to our ship the Norwegian Sun.  

Here is a video of our adventure on our Free Day in Copenhagen.  

Tonight we cruise under   the Øresund Bridge as we begin  our 9-Day Baltic Sea adventure. 

Tomorrow Wamenude and Berlin, Germany


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For an interactive map and guided walking tour covering many of our tours please be sure to download the GPSmyCity App from the iTunes store. The App covers an extensive library of articles and walking tours from over 470 cities worldwide, and now features articles from Adventures of a Home Town Tourist covering Carmel and Monterey (with more cities on the way).
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All photography or video by L A Momboisse and R M Momboisse unless listed below: 

Picture of Alexander Nevsky Church -  Wikipedia
Picture of front of Saint Ansgars - Wikipedia