Church of Our Lady

The Cathedral of Our Lady, in Copenhagen

The Cathedral of Our Lady is the most important church of Copenhagen, with a façade evoking the antique temples. The Copenhagen audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this neoclassical building of 1829, heir of a church founded in the twelfth century by Absalon, several times destroyed by fire and lightning, whose white nave is adorned with the marble statues of the twelve apostles.

History

This cathedral, whose façade evokes the architecture of the antique temples, is the most important church of Copenhagen. The current building was built in 1829, but the cathedral is much older: from the twelfth century, Absalon, the founder of the city, had ordered the building of a great church, unfortunately destroyed by a fire. Over the centuries, the church was victim of new fires, and even of lightning, that forced the city to rebuild it several times. It today displays a neoclassical style, and only its tower rests on the foundations of the former medieval tower. If the exterior reveals a bright light red colour, the interior, for its part, is all dressed in white, and invites to contemplation. Decorated with several marble statues representing the apostles, its nave of sixty metres long, that can host more than one thousand one hundred people, deserves the detour: you also discover there the risen Christ and the baptismal font, in an atmosphere of calm and serenity, far from the animation of the neighbouring shopping streets.

What to see

Here you discover, in contemplation, the most important church of Copenhagen, neoclassical building of 1829 heir of a church founded in the twelfth century by Absalon and many times destroyed by fire and lightning; its white nave of sixty metres is adorned with the marble statues of the twelve apostles and the risen Christ. The Cathedral of Our Lady is a major place of prayer, to be visited with respect. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Cathedral of Our Lady stands in the historic centre of Copenhagen, near the university, reachable on foot. It is a place of worship in activity, whose access is made in the respect of the services and of contemplation; the entry is often free and the building may close during celebrations. It is best to enquire before coming and to adopt correct attire.

What is the history of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Copenhagen?

It is the most important church of the city: from the twelfth century, Absalon, founder of Copenhagen, had a great church built, that was destroyed by fire and lightning and rebuilt several times; the current building, of neoclassical style, dates from 1829, and only its tower rests on the medieval foundations; its white nave is adorned with the marble statues of the twelve apostles.

Where is the Cathedral of Our Lady in Copenhagen?

In the historic centre of Copenhagen, near the university, in Denmark.