Frederik’s Church

The Marble Church, in Copenhagen

The Marble Church, or church of Saint Frederick, is the finest example of baroque architecture of Copenhagen, crowned with the largest dome of Scandinavia. The Copenhagen audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this building whose construction, begun in 1749, was interrupted for one hundred and fifty years, and whose blue dome, inspired by the basilica of Saint Peter in Rome, dominates the district facing the palace of Amalienborg.

History

It is nicknamed "the marble church", even though it was not entirely built in this material, despite the first intention of its designer at the beginning of the works in 1749. The death of the architect, barely five years after the beginning of the construction, interrupted the building. A new architect, French this time, was named by the king, but the sovereign died before he could resume the works. A chain of misadventures, linked to the lack of budget and architect, left the project abandoned. It was necessary to wait one hundred and fifty years for the construction to resume, thanks to the Danish architect Ferdinand Meldahl, who departed from the original plans, which were to make it a church of rococo style. It is thus finally the baroque style that characterises the building, whose true name is the church of Saint Frederick. What surprises the most is its impressive dome, of blue colour and considerable dimensions, that recalls that of the basilica of Saint Peter in Rome: it is the largest dome of all the Scandinavian countries. You can climb it to discover, in the calm, a very fine view of Copenhagen and the paintings of the cupola.

What to see

Here you admire, in contemplation, the finest baroque building of Copenhagen, nicknamed the marble church, whose construction begun in 1749 was interrupted for one hundred and fifty years; its blue dome, the largest of Scandinavia, recalls Saint Peter of Rome and offers, from its summit, a very fine view of the city. The church of Saint Frederick is a major place of prayer, to be visited with respect. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Marble Church stands in the Indre By district, facing the palace of Amalienborg, in Copenhagen, 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 of the church is often free, the climb to the dome paying and subject to hours. It is best to enquire before coming and to adopt correct attire.

Why did the construction of the Marble Church of Copenhagen last so long?

Because the construction, begun in 1749, was interrupted by the death of the architect then of the king, and left abandoned for lack of budget for one hundred and fifty years; the construction resumed only with the Danish architect Ferdinand Meldahl, who abandoned the original rococo project in favour of the baroque style, and crowned the building with the largest dome of Scandinavia.

Where is the Marble Church in Copenhagen?

In the Indre By district, facing the palace of Amalienborg, in Copenhagen, in Denmark.