Church of Our Savior, Copenhagen (must see)

One of the uniquely designed churches you must visit on your trip to Copenhagen is the Church of Our Savior. Constructed in baroque style, it is most famous for its helix spire with an external winding staircase that can be climbed to the top, offering extensive views over central Copenhagen. It is also noted for its carillon, which is the largest in northern Europe and plays melodies every hour from 8am to midnight.

The first version of this church was a temporary structure constructed by Christian IV in 1617 to serve Christianshavn on Amager Island. The present Church of Our Savior was constructed in Lambert Van Haven design over a period of 14 years and opened in 1695. It was only in 1732 that a permanent altar was built here. The spire was constructed by architect Lauritz de Thurah who abandoned the original Van Haven design. This spire approved by the king was completed in 1752.

As you enter the church compound you will be impressed by the Greek cross layout and the Dutch Baroque style construction. A granite foundation made of colourful yellow and red tiles support the walls.

Tuscan order pilasters segment the facade. Capitals and bases of this facade are made of sandstone. The tile frieze on the sandstone cornice adds to the elegance. Do not miss out the tall, arched windows between pilasters made of iron and glass.

Why You Should Visit:
The church itself is beautiful and its architecture – particularly the famous spiraling bell-tower – is worth a visit on its own.
However, the main attraction is the possibility to climb on that tower – on the very top, if you wish!

Tip:
There is no elevator and climbing up the steep, narrow staircase is pretty tough. Bring a bottle of water. You can also decide to stay on the topmost platform: views are already beautiful from up there.