VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and the largest city in Scandinavia. Copenhagen, which is nearly as old as Moscow, was founded only 20 after Moscow by Archbishop Axel Absalon in 1167. He built a fort protected by the sea to the east and by moats to the west.
Copenhagen became Denmark's capital in 1443 when King Erik of Pomerania moved there from Roskilde. The new capital was named København, or “trade harbour.”
Copenhagen acquired the look of a major European capital city in the 17th century during the reign of King Christian IV. During his reign, they built the Stock Exchange, with its spire depicting the interlaced tails of sea dragons pointing towards heaven; the Sailor's Church, which preserves the greatness and seafaring glory of Denmark; the Round Tower; and Rosenborg Castle.
Modern Copenhagen is the commercial, political, economic and cultural centre of Denmark. It is home to the boards and the enterprises of many large Danish companies, including A.P.Moller-Maersk, the East Asian Company (a shipping company involved in oil and gas production), FL Smidth, and the Carlsberg brewery.
The municipality of Copenhagen is home to over 692,000 people, and the population of the Greater Copenhagen, including its suburbs, is about 1.2 million.
Copenhagen’s Board consists of the city council, with 55 deputies that perform legislative functions, and a magistrate, represented by the Oberburgermaster and six burgermasters, that performs executive functions.
Copenhagen is home to Denmark’s intellectual potential, including major research and training centres. The University of Copenhagen was founded in the 15th century. There are other major institutions of higher education: the Higher Technical School, the Higher Commercial School, medical, higher and secondary teacher specialised training institutions, and many more.
Major landmarks:
- Marble Church. It was built over a period of almost 150 years and consecrated in 1894;
- Amalienborg Palace. Residence of the Queen of Denmark Margrethe II. Built between 1749 and 1760;
- The Little Mermaid is a character from a story by Hans Christian Andersen, and a symbol of Denmark. The statue was created by sculptor Edvard Eriksen in 1913 and installed on the Langelinie waterfront;
- The Town Hall Square is the city’s central square, built in place of the former western city gates. The Copenhagen Town Hall, built between 1892 and 1905 by architect Martin Nyrup, is located on the square.
- Tivoli is an internationally renowned recreation park with an area of 80,000 square metres, featuring numerous amusement rides, concert halls and entertainment stages. It was founded by George Karstensen and built in 1843;
- Glyptotek is an art museum featuring an outstanding collection of ancient art and Western European, especially French, paintings and sculptures. The collection was formed by the founder of the Carlsberg brewery, Carl Jacobsen;
- Thorvaldsen’s Museum holds a collection of classic works by the world famous Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen (1768-1864);
- Stroget is a pedestrian shopping area in downtown Copenhagen;
- Christiansborg Palace is the former residence of the royal family, now the seat of the parliament (Folketing). The Prime Minister’s Office, the Supreme Court, and the royal reception rooms are also located here;
- The Old Stock Exchange (Borsen) was built between 1619 and 1630. The Danish Chamber of Commerce is headquartered here. The Børsen executive club (BEC) holds its meetings here, too.
