Copenhagen Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady (Vor Frue Kirke), stands on Frue Plads in the old town, right next to the main building of the University of Copenhagen. From outside it looks like a Greek temple with a tower attached; inside, Bertel Thorvaldsen's white marble Christ and twelve apostles fill a bright, calm hall. It is the fourth church on this spot, and the three before it all ended in fire.
Copenhagen Cathedral at a glance
- Where: Frue Plads in the old town, between Nørregade and the university's main building.
- Built: 1817–1829, consecrated in June 1829; a church has stood here since around 1200.
- By: the architect Christian Frederik Hansen, with sculptures by Bertel Thorvaldsen and his workshop.
- What it is today: the Lutheran cathedral of the Diocese of Copenhagen and Denmark's national cathedral, still used for services, concerts and royal occasions.
- Time needed: 20 to 40 minutes.
Three fires and a bombardment
Bishop Absalon, the founder of Copenhagen, began the first Church of St Mary on the highest point of the young town in the late 12th century. A fire in 1314 destroyed it, and a Gothic brick church replaced it. That church saw royal weddings and coronations, and in 1479 its school became the core of the new University of Copenhagen. At the Reformation, crowds stormed it in December 1530 and smashed its statues and altars, and St Mary's became simply Our Lady's Church. The great fire of 1728 burned it down again, and the Baroque church that followed, with a spire about 120 metres high, lasted less than seventy years.
In September 1807 the British fleet bombarded Copenhagen to stop the Danish navy falling into Napoleon's hands. The tall spire was an easy target, and the church burned to the ground. Christian Frederik Hansen rebuilt it in the Neoclassical style, reusing some of the old walls, and it was consecrated in 1829. At first Thorvaldsen's statues stood in plaster; the marble versions arrived from his workshop in Rome over the next two decades. The church became the cathedral of the new Diocese of Copenhagen in 1922.
What to look for
- The portico: six columns and a pediment, flanked by bronze statues of Moses and King David, with Thorvaldsen's reliefs of John the Baptist preaching and Christ's entry into Jerusalem over the entrance.
- Thorvaldsen's Christ: the white marble figure in the apse, more than three metres tall, with arms opened towards the congregation. The words on the base, from Matthew 11:28, invite all who are weary to come to him.
- The apostles: twelve larger-than-life marble figures, one in front of each pillar of the nave. Judas is missing; St Paul takes his place.
- The font: a kneeling marble angel holding a large shell, a personal gift from Thorvaldsen.
- The tower: about 60 metres high and home to four bells, including one cast in 1490, the oldest bell in Denmark.
A royal wedding
Because it is the national cathedral, the Church of Our Lady is where the Danish royal family marks its great moments. On 14 May 2004 Crown Prince Frederik married Mary Donaldson here, watched by crowds outside and millions on television. Twenty years later, in January 2024, he became King Frederik X. Standing in the nave, you are in the same space as that ceremony, under the same flat coffered ceiling and in front of the same Christ.
Tips for your visit
- Go in the morning on a weekday, when the nave is quiet and the light through the high windows is softest.
- It is a working church: services, weddings and concerts can close it to visitors, so check before you go and keep your voice down inside.
- Walk to the far end of Frue Plads for a photo of the whole portico and tower together.
- Combine it with the Round Tower and a stroll down Strøget, both within a few minutes.
Nearby
- University of Copenhagen main building: the university's historic seat stands right beside the cathedral on Frue Plads.
- Round Tower: the 17th-century observatory tower with a spiral ramp instead of stairs, a few minutes' walk away.
- St Peter's Church: the old German church of Copenhagen, just around the corner on Nørregade.
- Strøget and Gråbrødretorv: the city's long pedestrian shopping street and the colourful square just off it.
See Copenhagen with World City Trail
Our Copenhagen scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 3 hours, with about 48 minutes of walking. The cathedral is one of the stops, along with places such as City Hall and the Round Tower.
If you prefer a different format, there is also a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game in Copenhagen.
Play the Copenhagen scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Copenhagen →
Play the outdoor escape game in Copenhagen →
Facts checked in October 2026.