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All Denmark Copenhagen Church of Our Saviour

Church of Our Saviour

Climb to the top of its spiral spire for spectacular views of Copenhagen.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Added By
Luis Morato
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View of the church and its spire.   Avda/cc by-sa 3.0
Taken from Canal Cruise   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  Titalium / Atlas Obscura User
view of the top.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The staircase.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
The view.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
View of the tower.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Sunset view.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Taken from Canal Cruise   SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Thurah’s corkscrew spire.   JD Lasica/cc by 2.0
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About

A corkscrew-shaped tower stretches from the top of this church. Climb to the tip, and you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of Copenhagen.

At the beginning of the 17th century, King Christian IV launched an effort to expand Copenhagen by building several fortifications and canals southward on the island of Amager. The newly occupied area needed a church, so construction on the Church of Our Savior began in 1695.

The tower of the church, which was designed by Lambert Van Haven, did not have a spire. Decades later, Lauritz de Thurah designed a spire, drawing inspiration from the spiral shape of Rome’s Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza. It was inaugurated on August 28, 1752, by King Frederik V.

The copper-clad wooden spire stands on an octagonal base and features semicircular arches and round windows with gilded frames. Four statues guard its base. The stairs—150 in total—twist counterclockwise, looping around the tower four times. A plinth holding a gilded globe and a sculpture of Jesus stands at the end.

Related Tags

Churches Towers Architecture Architectural Oddities Sacred Spaces

Know Before You Go

You can arrive by subway at the Christianshavn station.

Community Contributors

Added By

Luis Morato

Edited By

MrCarl, SEANETTA, Titalium

  • MrCarl
  • SEANETTA
  • Titalium

Published

September 25, 2019

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Our_Saviour,_Copenhagen
  • https://www.google.com/maps/place/Church+of+Our+Saviour/@55.67294,12.59329,18z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x46525339463aedc9:0xc11801eab74fb42b!2sChurch+of+Our+Saviour!8m2!3d55.6729387!4d12.5942102!3m4!1s0x46525339463aedc9:0xc11801eab74fb42b!8m2!3d55.6729387!4d12.5942102
Church of Our Saviour
31 Sankt Annæ Gade
Copenhagen, 1416
Denmark
55.672258, 12.594491
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