Rundetårn
| Rundetårn | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Consist | 1642–1861 (then Østervold Observatory , 1953 Brorfelde Observatory ) |
| Type | Astronomical tower |
| height | 32 m DK |
| Coordinates | 55 ° 40 '52.9 " N , 12 ° 34' 32.8" E |
The Rundetårn (historical writing and writing on postcards, etc.: Rundetaarn , Danish for round tower ) is an astronomical tower in the center of Copenhagen . The Rundetårn is now a well-known tourist attraction, public observatory , exhibition space, and its roof a much-visited lookout point.
The construction
King Christian IV had it from 1637 to 1642 according to plans by the architect Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder. J. erect. It is connected to the old university library and the Trinity Church , which were built in the decades after the tower was built.
The circular tower has a diameter of about 15 m and a height of 34.8 m. With the exception of the last few meters from the observation area to the observatory, it is not climbed via stairs, but via a 209 m long spiral corridor that winds around the center of the tower in seven and a half full turns. These riding stairs made it possible to deliver books, instruments and the like by horse and cart. Hans van Steenwinckel the Elder J. was familiar with this construction principle from the fortress Varberg (casemate passage, so-called "Kockenborg passage").
The iron railing on the viewing platform was made by Caspar Fincke in 1643. In several places it contains the letters RFP, an abbreviation for King Christian IV's motto : Regna Firmat Pietas ('Piety strengthens the kingdoms').
A picture puzzle (rebus) is attached to the facade of the tower . Christian IV's handwritten draft is preserved in the Reich Archives. One interpretation is:
| element | annotation | interpretation |
| DOCTRINAM ET | Latin | Right teaching and |
| (Sword) | symbol | justice |
| THIRD | Latin | guide, |
| יהוה | Hebrew | God, |
| IN | Latin | ins |
| (Heart) | symbol | Heart of |
| (Crown) | symbol | king |
| C 4 | Abbreviation | Christian IV - |
| 16 42 | Year number | completed in 1642. |
Carriages could drive up the stairs.
View towards Rosenborg Castle , Christian IV's residence.
Poster by Adi Holzer (1999)
astronomy
The tower was a replacement for the Uraniborg observatory , which was destroyed and fell to Sweden, and served as the observatory of the University of Copenhagen until 1861 ( Københavns Universitet Astronomisk Observatorium , since 1861 in Østervold), and still houses the oldest functioning observatory in Europe. It was declared Outstanding Astronomical Heritage by the International Astronomical Union because of its importance in the history of astronomy .
In the observatory is one of the old astronomical telescopes of the observatory, which is open to the public.
The asteroid 5505 Rundetårn is named after the tower.
Trivia
In the fairy tale Das Feuerzeug (1835), Hans Christian Andersen describes the circular, threateningly gawking eyes of a demonic dog with the comparison "eyes as big as the round tower" ( Øine saa store som Rundetaarn ). In Julius Reuscher's classic translation, however, it only says “eyes as big as a tower”, which makes the charming reference to the largest, imaginable round object in the city incomprehensible.
Because the round tower had literally set standards for centuries, it was often used in Denmark as a benchmark when specifying great (building) heights.
The tower contains two latrines , one halfway up the entrance to the library hall, the other directly under the roof. The pit for collecting human excrement is below the ground floor and was so large that it only had to be emptied about every 50 years. This last happened in 1921. Since 1902 the building complex has been connected to the sewer system.
Web links
- Official website (Rundetaarn.dk , Danish, English)
- Entry in the Danish monument register
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Lookout tower - observatory - exhibitions & other cultural events . rundetaarn.dk.
- ↑ Roswitha Beyer: Eselstreppe , in: Reallexikon zur Deutschen Kunstgeschichte , Vol. 6, 1968, Sp. 21-22.
- ↑ Fyrtøiet Royal Library Copenhagen, accessed 20 January 2012
- ^ The Zeno.org Lighter , accessed January 20, 2012