Biddle (CG 34) - Naval Cruise Book

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Copenhagen With nearly a million and a half people, C openhagen is Denmark ' s only large city. Starting as a small fishing village more than a thousand years ago, the city has grown into a major European commercial and cultural center. Its name (in Danish Kobenhavn, or Merchant ' s Harbor ) reflects its historical association with shipping and international trade. The city dates from the period of Absulutism, the golden age of aristocracy. It is a metropolis of fine old buildings and beautiful spires rising from the copper roofs of churches and castles visible over palace tiles. In 1167, Bishop Absalon, warrior and politician, as well as priest, built a fortress on the small central island known as Sltsholmen for protection. Christianborg Palace, scat of Parliament, stands on the sight now. C openhagen continued to grow with the influx of trade and with the ascent to the throne of King Christian IV (1588-1648) entered a period of great expansion. Rosenborg Castle, a beautiful Renaissance palace, which is now a museum with fine tapestries and royal possessions, includ- ing the Danish Crown jewels, was built by him. Also inspired by him are the Round Tower and Stock Kxchange, building. Frederick III built the Citadel near Lnagelinie for extra protection in 1659 after King Carl Gustaf of Sweden beseiged Copenhagen trying to conquer Denmark outright. The city was devastated by fire in 1728 and again in 1795. With the rebuilding hardly done, she was bombarded by the British during the Napoleonic Wars in 1801 and 1807. After this, Den- mark enjoyed relative peace and Copenhagen expanded far beyond its old boundaries andfortifica- tions. Industries such as brewing, shipbuilding and manufacturing hardware became highly profit- able. The city has grown from a population of 130,000 in 1850 to its present size. Kongens Nytorv (the King ' s New Market) is a large attractive square with carefully cultivated flower beds and shady trees planted to form a huge circle with a statue of King Christian V in the center. On the circle is the Royal Theatre and Charlottenborg (Royal Academy of Arts). Branching off this circle is Nyhavn, the sailor ' s corner. It is a canal where Hans Christian Anderson lived as a boy. There ' s the Little Mermaid, symbol of Copenhagen ' s hospitality and Tivoli Clardens, famous world over as an amusement park which embodies the conception of what fairyland should look like.