Copenhagen – the Exceptional City

Copenhagen is the largest Danish city and, at the same time, the country’s capital with the population of more then 500 thousand people (about 1,5 million people live in its metropolitan area). This is also one of the country’s oldest cities. The Danish monarchy is among the oldest ones in the world and Queen Margaret II lives right in the city centre. Copenhagen meets its guests with friendly and picturesque international atmosphere which allows everyone feel at home. On the one hand, it boasts its wonderful scenery while on the other hand it’s a lively and prosperous place – the motherland for many large commercial and financial enterprises. The citizens are really friendly, sensitive and unusual people who care a lot about the place they live in and participate in all the city’s events.



According to some evidences, the settlement of Copenhagen already existed more than 6000 years ago. However, the first recordings about it were probably written in 1043. At that time, it was called Havn, which means “the quay” and was of no strategic or political importance, as most of its inhabitants were fishermen. During the next two centuries thanks to fishery and trade this small village was turned into the flourishing city. In 1343 king Waldemar the Great turned Copenhagen into the country’s capital. In the 15th century it became the king’s residence and at the same time the capital of Norway and Sweden. A hundred years later Christian IV – the king that was keen on architecture, started to build castles and towers here, some of which still exist. During the city’s history, it sometimes faced Swedish attacks (in the 17th century), as well as the attacks of British warriors and was also beset by the fascists during the period of 1940 to 1945. Moreover, Copenhagen lived through plague and two destructive fires.

Nowadays Copenhagen is a very attractive city with water canals, narrow streets and old stone buildings. One of the city’s most famous citizens was Hans Christian Andersen – the tale writer whose stories still wonder the world. Copenhagen is proud of having the highest level of life in the world, has fun together with the street musicians and sparkles with thousands of its lights in the Tivoli garden. Copenhagen offers lots of entertainment, museums, art galleries, restaurants, botanical gardens, wild parks and many more. Amalienborg is the famous royal complex where there is the modern royal residence located while the Copenhagen National Museum keeps the huge collection of artifacts that comes from the Viking times. Another popular attraction is the Tivoli attraction park that was built specially for king Christian VIII. It was this place that inspired Hans Christian Andersen to create his fairytales. Nowadays Tivoli is famous for its fountains, thousands of flowers, scenes where various concerts take place, attractions, children performances and festive fireworks. Copenhagen is also the shopping centre with its long Stroget street where lots of things can be bought. The morning air is full of bread aromas and the windows are perfectly clean. That is what Copenhagen is - exceptionally lively and at the same time calm cosmopolitan city with vivid individuality.