Church of Our Saviour
Climb the outside of a baroque spire that spirals anticlockwise — and the architect died in his bed seven years later, perfectly satisfied.
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Lauritz de Thurah finished the spire in 1752, adding an external staircase that winds to the very top for wide views over central Copenhagen. The church's carillon plays melodies on the hour from 8am to midnight, audible from the street.
What to look for
- The anticlockwise exterior spiral staircase — the urban legend that Thurah leapt to his death over the "mistake" is false; records show nothing but satisfaction with the work
- Red and yellow tiles on the walls laid in a deliberately random pattern, unlike the systematic arrangement in Christian IV's other Christianshavn buildings
- The carillon above — it marks every hour with a melody, so the timing of your visit changes what you hear
The carillon plays from 8am to midnight; arrive just before the hour to hear it from the churchyard without paying for the climb.
Church of Our Saviour is one of 35 sights worth the detour in Copenhagen, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Copenhagen pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Copenhagen
- The Little MermaidAt 1.25 metres tall, she is smaller than almost every visitor expects — and that gap between legend and reality is the whole experience.
- Parken StadiumA 38,000-seat national football ground with a retractable roof and a three-Michelin-star restaurant on the eighth floor.
- AmalienborgFour matching palaces share one octagonal courtyard — and the Danish king actually lives in one.
- Tivoli GardensOpen since 1843 on a royal permit granted because, as the founder told the king, people busy having fun don't think about politics.
- Christiansborg PalaceThe only building on Earth where parliament, prime minister, and supreme court share one address — and the king still drops by.
- Rosenborg CastleA 1606 royal summerhouse that ended up storing the crown jewels and standing in as emergency palace twice.