Round Tower (Rundetaarn)

The Round Tower (Rundetaarn) at Købmagergade 52A in the Latin Quarter of Copenhagen, Denmark, is a 17th-century astronomical observatory commissioned by King Christian IV and completed in 1642. It was built as part of the Trinitatis complex, which joined a church, a university library and an observatory, and the tower served astronomers for generations. Its most unusual feature is the spiral ramp, 209 metres long, that winds around a hollow core and replaces stairs; legend says it was designed so that a horse and carriage could reach the top. Visitors climb the gently sloping ramp, passing a small window into the church attic and the Library Hall, a large vaulted exhibition space at the base of the platform that hosts temporary shows. At the top, a viewing platform about 34.8 metres above street level offers a panorama of the rooftops, copper spires and narrow lanes of the old town, including views toward Christiansborg and the harbour. Inside, the tower includes an observatory with a telescope that is open to the public in the colder season, and a glass floor in the shaft lets visitors look down through the core. The ramp is wide enough for strollers, and the ascent takes only a few minutes, so a typical visit lasts thirty to forty-five minutes. The platform can become crowded on summer afternoons and on weekends, when queues form at the entrance, while weekday mornings are quieter. Clear afternoons give the best views, and late light is good for photographs over the roofs. The tower stands on a pedestrian shopping street, so visitors can combine it with browsing in the Latin Quarter, the Rosenborg district and Strøget. Cafes and bookshops lie within a short walk of the entrance, and the tower has a small shop.