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Near the famous Amalienborg Palace lies the Frederiks Kirke. The historic "marble church" with its monumental dome characterizes the cityscape and the silhouette of Copenhagen. Not least because of its special history, Frederik's Church is considered a tourist attraction.
A church in honour of the House of Oldenburg
At the behest of King Frederik V, Nicolai Eigtved drew up the building plans for Frederiks Kirke. As one part of several representative building projects in the Frederiksstad district, the church was to be erected in honour of the king and the 300th anniversary of the House of Oldenburg. The foundation stone was laid by the king on the occasion of the jubilee on 30 October 1749. The original building plans were very ambitious and accordingly a magnificent church building was to be built.
The dome was planned with a span of 45 m and was to be adorned by free-standing towers and a magnificent columned portal. Already during the first building measures Frederik V. doubted the plans and ordered that instead of sandstone marble should be used, which also brought the church the title marble church. This eventually caused the building costs to rise and after Eigtved's death Nicolas-Henri Jardin revised the plans. After King Christian VII refused to support the building work, the church was not completed in honour of his predecessor, but in 1770 construction was halted. It was not until 1874 that the ruined building was sold to the industrialist Carl Frederik Tietgen, who was given the task of completing the church. So that it was finally finished with sandstone and could be consecrated in 1894.
The special features of Frederiks Kirke
Today, a 46 m high dome with a diameter of 31 m rests on twelve columns. Those who want can walk up the steps to the dome and enjoy a wonderful view over the city and Öresund. The dome is also famous, as it is still the biggest walkable church dome of Scandinavia. The central building that was built in the style of the classicistic late baroque is very impressive, but also the exterior gallery with its larger-than-life statues of the prophets, reformers and church fathers should be absolutely visited. The wall paintings are also worth a second look. In the dome, for example, are the twelve apostles and below the dome is the Bible verse John 17:3. It is also worth taking a closer look at the artistic windows, which provide a particularly beautiful light in the rooms and impress with their numerous details.
