Attractions

Frederiksholms Kanal 29

1220 Copenhagen

Program

Kongernes Lapidarium Christian 4.s Bryghus

The Lapidarium of Kings in Christian IV’s Brewhouse

4th June 2014, Copenhagen opened the doors of a brand new attraction, inviting you to take an aesthetic stroll under the vaulted ceilings of a 400 year-old brewhouse. The brewhouse was built at Slotsholmen in the heart of Copenhagen by Denmark’s most famous king, Christian IV. Here visitors will be greeted by 300 statues and sculptures gathered from royal gardens, palaces and buildings. Among the treasures is the equestrian statue from the square of the royal palace Amalienborg, which is rumoured to have cost more than the entire palace!

Frederik 5. The king of  Danmark-Norwegian from 1746-1766.

The Staging of Kings

With international inspiration, not least from France, the kings of Denmark have used statues to symbolise their power for centuries on the facades and in the gardens of their palaces, and in the towns and cities of Denmark, including imposing equestrian statues, beautiful goddesses and bombastic trophies. Royal palaces and castles like Rosenborg and Amalienborg in Copenhagen, and Fredensborg north of the city, were full of statues and other stone sculptures.

A Collection of Originals

After years exposed to the elements, many of the old statues have fallen into decay and been replaced, but now you can see the originals in a permanent exhibition in Christian IV’s atmospheric brewhouse. Among them, Scandinavia’s first equestrian statue from 1688, depicting Christian V in both its original dark lead form, as well as cast in radiant, white plaster of Paris. Frederik V, the king of statues, is also present on horseback in a plaster of Paris version of the French sculptor Saly’s equestrian statue from Amalienborg Palace Square – the most expensive statue in Danish history and ranked among the best in the world. 

Come inside one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings

Christian IV’s brewhouse, the unique setting for The King’s Lapidarium, is one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings, dating as far back as 1608. The huge brick building is in the historical Copenhagen area of Slotsholmen, with The Royal Library and Copenhagen Harbour as close neighbours. The building was originally constructed as part of Copenhagen’s military fortifications. The ground floor with its vaulted ceilings has hardly changed since the reign of Christian IV, and above it is an impressive roof construction, where the timber, beams and posts are fully visible.

It is in this unique, historical setting that an aesthetic experience awaits – an experience in which the rustic rooms and refined statues and sculptures form a stunning synthesis.