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Køge

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Køge
Køge Torv with its statue of Frederick VII
Køge Torv with its statue of Frederick VII
CountryDenmark
RegionZealand (Sjælland)
MunicipalityKøge
Established13th century
City charter13th century
Current municipality2007-01-01
Government
 • MayorMarie Stærke
Area
 • Total255.47 km2 (98.64 sq mi)
Elevation
3 m (10 ft)
Population
 (2014-01-01)
 • Total35,768
 • Density140/km2 (360/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (CEST)
Postal code
4600
Area code(+45) 56
Websitewww.koege.dk

Køge (pronounced [ˈkøːə] or [ˈkøːjə], older spelling Kjøge) is a seaport on the coast of Køge Bugt (Bay of Køge) 39 km southwest of Copenhagen. It is the principal town and seat of Køge Municipality, Region Sjælland, Denmark. In 2014, the urban area had a population of 35,768.[1]

The natural harbour and strategic location have given Køge a long history as a market town. Today, that past is evident in a well-preserved old town centre with many half-timbered houses.

Køge is in the Copenhagen metropolitan area and is connected to downtown Copenhagen by the E line of the S-train commuter rail system. Køge is also on a new rail line under construction between Copenhagen and Ringsted, and due for completion in 2018. The new line will make Køge a central hub in Denmark's transport system.[2]

History

Køge was officially founded in 1288, when the town became a market town, as a contrast to the ecclesiastical center at that time – Roskilde, and was an important merchant town during the late Middle Ages.

During the local witchhunt, called Køge Huskors (1608–1615), at least 15 people were convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Køge suffered during the wars between Denmark and Sweden (1643–1720). In 1807, the town and surrounding area was the scene of the Battle of Køge between British and Danish troops. Køge remained a small town until the late 19th century, when industrial development and population growth began. Today, Køge is the main part of the 18th largest urban area in Denmark.

Geography

Køge is located at the bottom of Bay of Køge, demarcated by Copenhagen to the north and the Stevns Peninsula to the south, where Køge Å (Køge Creek) meets the sea.

Apart from Køge proper, the town's urban area consists of the suburbs of Køge Nord (Ølby Lyng and Ølsemagle Lyng) to the north and Hastrup and Herfølge to the south.

Economy

The port is directly connected with the Scandinavian Transport Centre, a large business park on the northwestern outskirts of Køge, where – among others – the headquarters and the Danish distribution centre of the multinational, Danish-founded, discount supermarket chain Netto is located.

Culture

Museums

Køge Museum is located at 4 Nørregade in a preserved former merchant's house from the year 1619. Further down the street, in No. 29, lies KØS - museum of art in public spaces. It is the only art museum in Denmark dedicated specifically to sketches and models for art works in the public realm. Among its holdings is the original model for The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen.

Architecture

The historical architecture of the town centre is one of the major attractions of Køge. The oldest dated half-timbered house in Denmark, which is also the oldest dated non-nobility and non-religious building of the nordic countries, can be found in Køge. It was built in 1527. Originally a section of a row of hovels, it is now a part of the public library. Pictures can be found in the gallery. The Third largest Viking Ring Fortress was found near the city of Køge, Denmark.[3]

Near the house is Sankt Nicolai Church. The tower of the church contains a lighthouse, the first to be built in Denmark.

Køge's town hall dates from 1552 and is the oldest town hall in Denmark still in use as such.

Køge Torv, the market square, is, with an area of almost 1 hectare (2.5 acres), the largest town square in Denmark outside Copenhagen and the largest and best-preserved medieval town square in Denmark. There are fair days on the square Wednesday and Saturday.

Kjøge Miniby (Kjøge Mini-Town) is a historically correct model of the town from the year 1865 – built to a scale of 1:10.

Sports

The football club HB Køge was created through a merger of professional football between Herfølge Boldklub and Køge Boldklub in 2009. It currently plays in the Danish 1st Division. Their home ground is named Herfølge Stadion. It is used and serves as the primary training fields and facilities of the professional club, besides the now amateur mother club of Herfølge Boldklub. The Facilities is situated in the suburb of Herfølge, about 5 kilometres south of central Køge.

  • Køge in the winter
    Køge in the winter
  • New entrance to the former Tøxens Skole in Køge (now Sankt Nicolai Skole Nord)
    New entrance to the former Tøxens Skole in Køge (now Sankt Nicolai Skole Nord)
  • Oldest dated house in Køge, also the oldest dated half-timbered house in Denmark
    Oldest dated house in Køge, also the oldest dated half-timbered house in Denmark
  • Modern photo of the oldest dated half-timbered house in Køge and Denmark
    Modern photo of the oldest dated half-timbered house in Køge and Denmark
  • Looking down Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge. Køge's church (Sankt Nicolai Kirke is behind the trees)
    Looking down Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge. Køge's church (Sankt Nicolai Kirke is behind the trees)
  • Køge church (Sankt Nicolai Kirke)
    Køge church (Sankt Nicolai Kirke)
  • Old houses on Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge
    Old houses on Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge
  • Statue of King Frederik VII in the centre of Køge's town square
    Statue of King Frederik VII in the centre of Køge's town square
  • Køge Museum with the yellow painted town hall in the background
    Køge Museum with the yellow painted town hall in the background
  • KØS - museum of art in public spaces
    KØS - museum of art in public spaces
  • Part of Kjøge Miniby (Kjøge Mini-Town) the historical Mini-Town
    Part of Kjøge Miniby (Kjøge Mini-Town) the historical Mini-Town

Transport

Roads

The partial Y interchange, where the Danish part of the motorway E20 meet the Danish part of the motorway E47 and E55, is located only few kilometers northwest of Køge.

Railway stations

Køge station is the principal railway station of the town. There are also railway stations in the northern suburb of Ølby Lyng and in the southern suburb of Herfølge.

Port of Køge

The Port of Køge is one of the oldest ports in Denmark but has been modernised over the last few years. Since 2002, there has been a ferry connection to Rønne on the Baltic island of Bornholm, operated by BornholmerFærgen.

See also

References

  1. ^ BEF44: Population 1st January, by urban areas database from Statistics Denmark
  2. ^ "Køge-borgmester henrykt over ny jernbane". Danmarks Radio. Retrieved 2010-09-26. (Danish)
  3. ^ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/denmark/11079056/Viking-ring-fortress-discovered-in-Denmark.html
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Køge.
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