Nytorv – Courthouse
Nytorv was established by King Christian IV in 1606.
(1577-1648 – ruled Denmark and Norway 1588-1648) During
the years 1606-10 the King modernised the Town
Hall in “Rosenborg Style” (Dutch Renaissance) with
a tower and spire and the City Court was placed in the ground
floor. The combination of using the Town Hall
and City Court in the same building was very
practical and lasted for nearly 300 years.
At the same time King Christian IV ordered that the area behind
the Town Hall should be established as an open square, which
gave space to two squares – the old Gammeltorv
(Old Square) in front of the Town Hall, and the new square behind
the Town Hall was called Nytorv (New Square.
On the Old Square (Gammeltorv) the King erected the Caritas
Fountain with a great water well under for the cities water
supply system.
Nytorv
was also the central meat and beef market from
1610 to around 1850.
| The
Old Town Hall and Court House on Nytorv (New Square)
from 1606-1610 burnt down to the ground during the
heavy fires of Copenhagen in 1795. The Caritas Fountain
from 1608 is in front. |
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| The
Square at Nytorv (New Square) was besides being
a popular gathering spot for Copenhageners also
the central meat and beef market with many stands
and crowds of people. |
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Public
Punishment on Nytorv
During 1600 and 1700 criminals was punished in public on the
Old Square (Gammeltorv), and often they were executed by hanging
or beheading. The scaffold was then moved
to the New Square (Nytorv) in 1627, and was
used her for the next 125 years. The last
execution on Nytorv was in 1758, and the
scaffold site was demolished in 1762. On
Nytorv people was also condemned in public for a shorter term
punishment, either to carry the barrel pillory,
or for more public humiliation to sit on the wooden
horse for hours. The stock was a
pillory type set up in marketplaces like Nytorv and consisted
of hinged wooden boards that formed holes through which the
head and/or various limbs were inserted - then the boards
were locked together to secure the captive.
| Punishment
for felony in the 1600s was to carry
the barrel pillory on Nytorv and was often an additional
painful abuse. |
|
| For
shorter term punishment and
public humiliation the stock was a pillory type
set up on marketplaces like Nytorv in the 1600s
to 1700s. |
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The
present City Court from 1815
The Town Hall burnt down to the ground during the great fires
of Copenhagen in 1795, and it was decided
to build a combined Town Hall and City Court, which was completed
in 1815 and is the present City Courthouse
on Nytorv, surrounded by several mansions buildings from 1800.
The building was constructed in neoclassical style
with six Ionian Pillars at the entrance
and beside of the building a portal connected the access to
the city gaol.
| The
City Town Hall and Court House in 1888. The Town
Hall moved to its present location in 1905. |
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| The
present Court House from 1815 on Nytorv has often
been modernised and is in full daily function. |
|
The
city administration moved to new locations in 1905,
when Copenhagen’s new town hall was built together with
the town hall square called “Rådhuspladsen”.
Location
Nytorv is located opposite Gammeltorv and the Caritas Fountain.
The pedestrian street "Strøget"
runs through Nytorv and Gammel Torv.
Nytorv
Address
Nytorv
Copenhagen
1450 Copenhagen K
Busses: 5A - 6A
Trains - Nørreport Station
Distance from Town Hall Square 1,5 km. and expect 10-15
min. by walk.
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