Frederik's Church — Attraction in Copenhagen Municipality

Frederik's Church, popularly known as The Marble Church (Marmorkirken) for its rococo architecture, is an Evangelical Lutheran church in Copenhagen, Denmark. The church forms the focal point of the Frederiksstaden district; it is located due west of Amalienborg Palace.

The church was designed by the architect Nicolai Eigtved in 1740 and was along with the rest of Frederiksstaden, a district of Copenhagen, intended to commemorate the 300 years jubilee of the first coronation of a member of the House of Oldenburg.

Frederick's Church has the largest church dome in Scandinavia with a span of 31m. The dome rests on 12 columns. The inspiration was probably St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The foundation stone was set by king Frederick V on October 31, 1749, but the construction was slowed by budget cuts and the death of Eigtved in 1754. In 1770, the original plans for the church were abandoned by Johann Friedrich Struensee. The church was left incomplete and, in spite of several initiatives to complete it, stood as a ruin for nearly 150 years.

In 1874, Andreas Frederik Krieger, Denmark's Finance Minister at the time, sold the ruins of the uncompleted church and the church square to Carl Frederik Tietgen for 100,000 Rigsdaler — none of which was to be paid in cash — on the condition that Tietgen would build a church in a style similar to the original plans and donate it to the state when complete, while in turn he acquired the rights to subdivide neighboring plots for development.

The deal was at the time highly controversial. On 25 January 1877, a case was brought by the Folketing at the Court of Impeachment (Danish: Rigsretten), Krieger being charged with corruption over this deal. He was, however, eventually acquitted.

Tietgen got Ferdinand Meldahl to design the church in its final form and financed its construction. Due to financial restrictions, the original plans for the church to be built almost entirely from marble were discarded, and instead Meldahl opted for construction to be done with limestone. The church was finally opened to the public on August 19, 1894.

Inscribed in gold lettering on the entablature of the front portico are the words: HERRENS ORD BLIVER EVINDELIG (Danish: "the word of the Lord endureth for ever." – 1 Peter 1:25, KJV).

A series of statues of prominent theologians and ecclesiastical figures, including one of the eminent Danish philosopher Kierkegaard (who, incidentally, had become very critical of the established church by the end of his life), encircles the grounds of...

We visited Frederik’s Church, also known as The Marble Church, while in Copenhagen for the day on a cruise — and it ended up being one of our favorite sights of the trip. The church is absolutely stunning, both inside and out. The architecture is a breathtaking example of rococo design, with the massive dome as its centerpiece. It’s hard to miss — the dome dominates the skyline and adds a lot of character to the surrounding area. The interior is equally impressive, with beautifully detailed columns, soft natural light, and a peaceful, reverent atmosphere that invites you to slow down and take it all in. What’s even better is that entry is completely free, so if you’re nearby, it’s absolutely worth stepping inside for a few moments of quiet and a look at the incredible craftsmanship. If you’re visiting on a weekend, I highly recommend planning to climb the dome. The guided tour takes place at 13:00 sharp, and tickets (35 DKK) are sold at the entrance. Unfortunately, we didn’t time our visit right and missed the tour, but it’s definitely on our list for next time — the views from the top are said to be incredible. Whether you’re in Copenhagen for a few hours or a few days, Frederik’s Church is a must-see, especially if you appreciate architecture, history, or just need a peaceful moment in the middle of your...

Frederik's Church (Danish: Frederiks Kirke), popularly known as The Marble Church (Marmorkirken) for its rococo architecture, is an Evangelical Lutheran church in Copenhagen, Denmark. The church forms the focal point of the Frederiksstaden district; it is located due west of Amalienborg Palace.

The church was designed by the architect Nicolai Eigtved in 1740 and was along with the rest of Frederiksstaden, a district of Copenhagen, intended to commemorate the 300 years jubilee of the first coronation of a member of the House of Oldenburg.[1]

Frederick's Church has the largest church dome in Scandinavia with a span of 31m. The dome rests on 12 columns.[1] The inspiration was probably St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The foundation stone was set by king Frederick V on October 31, 1749, but the construction was slowed by budget cuts and the death of Eigtved in 1754. In 1770, the original plans for the church were abandoned by Johann Friedrich Struensee. The church was left incomplete and, in spite of several initiatives to complete it, stood as a ruin for...