Gothersgade
Encyclopedia
Gothersgade is a major street in the City Centre
of Copenhagen
, Denmark
. It extends from Kongens Nytorv
to Sortedam Lake, passing Rosenborg Castle
and Gardens
, Nørreport Station
and Copenhagen Botanic Gardens
on the way.
Every day at 11:30 am, the Royal Life Guards, who are based at Rosenborg Barracks
, depart from Rosenborg Eksercerplads and march down Gothersgade and up Bredgade
for the ceremonial changing of the guard at 12 noon at Amalienborg Palace Square
.
. Originally called Ny Kongensgade, it was established in about 1647 after the Eastern Rampart had been taken in a more northerly direction to expand the fortified city with a large new area known as New Copenhagen. At his point the street only ran to the site of today's Nørreport Station
where it met the fortifications just north-east of the North City Gate.
In 1870, after the fortifications had been decommissioned and their grounds leveled out, the street was extended to its current length.
In 1892, Copenhagen's first public electricity plant
, Gothersgade elektriske Centralstation, opened at the corner of Gothergade and Adelsgade. It was installed behind the existing house fronts towards Gothergade and was unusual for its central location. It was later expanded and modernized several times. Since 1994, it had only served as a substation
for distribution of electricity and central heating
.
In 1920–30 the section of Gothersgade from Rosenborg Castle Gardens to Sortedam Lake was widened. In the process, Rosenborg Barracks
was shortened with two bays and the drill house from 1787 and Brøndkuranstalten in front of Rosenborg Castle were demolished. A planned widening of the section of the street closest to Kongens Nytorv was later abandoned.
of the title King of the Goths and the Wends
which was used by Danish kings from the 14th century until 1972. Vendersgade, which is Gothersgade's mirror image on the other side of Frederiksborggade, refers to the Wends
of the same title.
Indre By
Indre By , also known as Copenhagen Center or K or Downtown Copenhagen or City, is one of the 15 administrative, statistical, and tax city districts comprising the municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark...
of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. It extends from Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv
Kongens Nytorv is a public square in Copenhagen, Denmark, centrally located at the end of the pedestrian street Strøget. The finest and largest square of the city, it was laid out by Christian V in 1670 in connection with a major extension of the fortified city, and has an equestrian statue of...
to Sortedam Lake, passing Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle
Rosenborg Castle is a renaissance castle located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects...
and Gardens
Rosenborg Castle Gardens
Rosenborg Castle Gardens is Copenhagen's oldest and most visited park with 2.5 million visitors per year.-The Renaissance gardens:...
, Nørreport Station
Nørreport station
Nørreport Station is a mainline railway, S-train and Copenhagen Metro station located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the busiest train station in the country, serving 300,000 people daily, including passengers not stepping off. There are 165.000 leaving or entering trains including the metro...
and Copenhagen Botanic Gardens
University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden
The University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden , usually referred to simply as Copenhagen Botanical Garden, is a botanical garden located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark...
on the way.
Every day at 11:30 am, the Royal Life Guards, who are based at Rosenborg Barracks
Rosenborg Barracks
Rosenborg Barracks , one of two barracks of the Royal Danish Life Guard, is located next to Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark...
, depart from Rosenborg Eksercerplads and march down Gothersgade and up Bredgade
Bredgade
Bredgade is one of the most prominent streets in Copenhagen, Denmark. Running in a straight line from Kongens Nytorv for just under one kilometre to the intersection of Esplanaden and Grønningen, it is one of the major streets in Frederiksstaden, a Rococo district laid out in the middle of the...
for the ceremonial changing of the guard at 12 noon at Amalienborg Palace Square
Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard ; in the centre of the square is a monumental equestrian statue of Amalienborg's...
.
History
Gothersgade runs along the original course of the Eastern Rampart of Copenhagen's former Fortification RingFortifications of Copenhagen (17th century)
The fortifications of Copenhagen underwent a comprehensive modernization and expansion in the 17th century. The project was commenced and largely masterplanned by Christian IV in the early 17th century but continued and completed by his successors...
. Originally called Ny Kongensgade, it was established in about 1647 after the Eastern Rampart had been taken in a more northerly direction to expand the fortified city with a large new area known as New Copenhagen. At his point the street only ran to the site of today's Nørreport Station
Nørreport station
Nørreport Station is a mainline railway, S-train and Copenhagen Metro station located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the busiest train station in the country, serving 300,000 people daily, including passengers not stepping off. There are 165.000 leaving or entering trains including the metro...
where it met the fortifications just north-east of the North City Gate.
In 1870, after the fortifications had been decommissioned and their grounds leveled out, the street was extended to its current length.
In 1892, Copenhagen's first public electricity plant
Power station
A power station is an industrial facility for the generation of electric energy....
, Gothersgade elektriske Centralstation, opened at the corner of Gothergade and Adelsgade. It was installed behind the existing house fronts towards Gothergade and was unusual for its central location. It was later expanded and modernized several times. Since 1994, it had only served as a substation
Electrical substation
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...
for distribution of electricity and central heating
Central heating
A central heating system provides warmth to the whole interior of a building from one point to multiple rooms. When combined with other systems in order to control the building climate, the whole system may be a HVAC system.Central heating differs from local heating in that the heat generation...
.
In 1920–30 the section of Gothersgade from Rosenborg Castle Gardens to Sortedam Lake was widened. In the process, Rosenborg Barracks
Rosenborg Barracks
Rosenborg Barracks , one of two barracks of the Royal Danish Life Guard, is located next to Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark...
was shortened with two bays and the drill house from 1787 and Brøndkuranstalten in front of Rosenborg Castle were demolished. A planned widening of the section of the street closest to Kongens Nytorv was later abandoned.
The name
The prefix Gothers- in the street name refers to the GothsGoths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
of the title King of the Goths and the Wends
King of the Goths
The title of King of the Goths was for many centuries borne by both the Kings of Sweden and the Kings of Denmark, denoting sovereignty or claimed sovereignty over the antique people of the Goths....
which was used by Danish kings from the 14th century until 1972. Vendersgade, which is Gothersgade's mirror image on the other side of Frederiksborggade, refers to the Wends
King of the Wends
The title of King of the Wends denoted sovereignty or claims over once-Slavic lands of southern coasts of the Baltic Sea, those otherwise called Mecklenburg, Holstein and Pomerania, and was used from 12th century to 1972 by Kings of Denmark and from ca 1540 to 1973 by the Kings of Sweden.The...
of the same title.
Notable buildings
- Baron Boltens GårdBaron Boltens GårdBaron Boltens Gård us a historic house at 8 Gothersgade in central Copenhagen, Denmark, as well as a passageway which connects Gothersgade to Store Kongensgade...
(8A Gothersgade) - Cinemateket, home of the Danish Film InstituteDanish Film InstituteThe Danish Film Institute is the national Danish agency responsible for supporting and encouraging film and cinema culture, and for conserving these in the national interest....
(55 Gothersgade) - King's Gate, one of the entrances to Rosenborg Castle GardensRosenborg Castle GardensRosenborg Castle Gardens is Copenhagen's oldest and most visited park with 2.5 million visitors per year.-The Renaissance gardens:...
, located diagonally from Queen's Gate - Rosenborg CastleRosenborg CastleRosenborg Castle is a renaissance castle located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. The castle was originally built as a country summerhouse in 1606 and is an example of Christian IV's many architectural projects...
(4A Øster Voldgade) - Rosenborg BarracksRosenborg BarracksRosenborg Barracks , one of two barracks of the Royal Danish Life Guard, is located next to Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen, Denmark...
(100 Gothersgade) - Reformed ChurchReformed Church, CopenhagenReformed Church in Gothersgade, opposite Rosenborg Castle, is a church building used by the reformed congregations in Copenhagen, Denmark. Consecrated in 1689, the church was instigated by Queen Charlotte Amalie, consort of King Christian V, who was herself a German Calvinist...
(109 Gothersgade) - Nørreport StationNørreport stationNørreport Station is a mainline railway, S-train and Copenhagen Metro station located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the busiest train station in the country, serving 300,000 people daily, including passengers not stepping off. There are 165.000 leaving or entering trains including the metro...
- Entrance to University of Copenhagen Botanical GardenUniversity of Copenhagen Botanical GardenThe University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden , usually referred to simply as Copenhagen Botanical Garden, is a botanical garden located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark...
- Faculty Library of Social Sciences (140 Gothersgade)
- St. Andrew's ChurchSt. Andrew's Church, CopenhagenSt. Andrew's Church is a Lutheran church on Gothersgade in Copenhagen, Denmark, which was designed by the architect Martin Borch and built from 1897 to 1901. It is a parish church within the Danish National Church.-Architecture:...
(148 Gothersgade)