Streets squares and districts to visit Copenhagen

This district was born from the rehabilitation of former disused industrial wastelands, wedged between the railway tracks and the docks, transformed into a dynamic and ultra-modern place to live. Along Kalvebod Brygge, a pedestrian promenade has been created along the waterfront to the "Copencabana" marina. The glass buildings (some housing hotels) and the Fisketorvet shopping centre (the fish market) are opened up by the Bryggebroen removable footbridge, which is both cycling and pedestrian-friendly and is extended by the famous Snake circle bridge.

The Royal Square is part of a development project commissioned by King Frederik V in 1749 on the occasion of the celebration of the tercentenary of the Oldenburg Dynasty's accession to power. The king's favourite, Count Moltke, was entrusted with the supervision of the project, which was entrusted to the master builder Nicolai Eigtved. The octagonal square, flanked by four palaces, is divided by two perpendicular axes opening onto the gates of Amalie Gade and Frederiks Gade. The project also included the Marble Church and the equestrian statue of the king. Thus, all the powers were thus united there!

The first palace to be completed was the Christian VII Palace or Moltke Palace (named after its first owner) at the corner of Frederiksgade on the southwest side. It was built by Eitgved himself, who decorated the Great Hall, one of the finest examples of Rococo interiors. After the architect's death, his successor, the Frenchman Nicolas-Henri Jardin, furnished the Great Hall for banquets. C.F. Harsdorff in turn converted it into a royal residence. Since 1885 it has been admirably restored and since then it has been used for official guests of the royal family, receptions and guided tours for the public.

The palace of Christian VIII (or Leventzau Palace) occupies the northwest side of the square. It was Lauritz de Thurah who completed the work after Eitgved's death, following the plans of his rival. It was built in the Empire style by Niciolai Abildgaard and now houses the Amalienborg Museum, which houses the Royal Collection of Jewellery and Costume that the ruling family has assembled since their accession to power.

Opposite, in the northeast corner, is the palace of Frederik VIII (or BrockdorffPalace ), also completed by Lauritz de Thurah. It was assigned to the Sea Cadets for a while, before welcoming members of the royal family. Queen Mother Ingrid lived there until her death in September 2000. A complete restoration was carried out in the years 2009-2010 so that the current Crown Prince could move in with his entire family.

Finally, in the south-east, the palace of Christian IX (called the Løvenskiold Palace or Schack Palace) was completed by Philip de Lange in the Louis XVI style. It is here that the royal family found refuge in 1794. King Christian IX resided here between 1863 and 1906, when Harsdorff redesigned the palace. The latter, nicknamed the "father-in-law of Europe", married his three daughters to European monarchs here. Today it is the residence of Sovereign Margrethe II.

If ever nostalgia for the Hexagon takes you, take a trip by Vaernedamsvej. A little frenchy corner where nothing takes us out of our comfort zone. There are restaurants of French inspiration, wine bars, local shops - butcher's and delicatessen, cheese dairy, primeurs... -and, of course, the little café on the corner, an expatriate hangout. On the same street is the Prins Henriks Skole, the French high school in Copenhagen. It bears the name of the most famous Frenchman in the capital, Henri de Laborde de Montpezat!

This large, wide and noble avenue shaded by linden trees leads from the popular Vesterbro district to the splendid Frederiksberg Park. At the time of its creation, the avenue was a private road, the King's Road, reserved for the court during their seasonal migrations to the park. Much later, this straight road through a former rural area was populated by guinguettes and estaminets, offering healthy breaks for Copenhageners in search of greenery. Today it is lined with opulent buildings, elegant shops and bourgeois cafés.

Istedgade travels through a once working class neighborhood known as the "red-light district," known to have been a stronghold of the labor movement in Denmark. Nowadays it is undergoing a complete transformation, with the renewal of its population, where bobos, creators and immigrants share spaces, each with its own themes and its own shops! Historically, it is here that the memory of the general uprising of the inhabitants against the Nazi occupiers in August 1944 is kept ... It all opens out near the Carlsberg breweries on Enghave Plads, another multi-ethnic space with hype cafés.

Straedet is the colloquial name for a three-street string. Successively: Favergade, whose name comes from a royal textile dyeing factory, Kompagnisttraede or the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society, a civil militia, and Laederstraede, a pier overlooking the harbour! Grand' Street much less busy than the neighbouring Strøget, its name is already mentioned in the city archives in 1397. It has some beautiful old houses, dating from before the fire of 1795, as well as a very commercial area: cafés, restaurants and shops ranging from flea markets to design.

Last vestige of the Queen's garden, more than a square, it is a beautiful shady walkway linking Bredgade to the port. Bordered by noble buildings, most of them in classical style, they are today occupied by architectural firms, diplomatic representations or bank headquarters. In its centre, the small garden is animated by statues, including that of C.F. Tietgen, who financed the work on the Marble Church. To be seen in the former cemetery of the Garrison Church, the First World War memorial, created by Ausa Hofman-Bang.