Copenhagen - Round Tower

(Local Name: Rundetårn) From Nørregade in Copenhagen's Old Town narrow lanes lead into Fiolstræde, a parallel street with many bookshops and antique dealers. In Krystalgade can be seen the Synagogue, built in 1833 in yellow brick. Passing this the visitor will come to Købmagergade, a shopping street, with the Round Tower (Rundetårn), 36m/120ft high and 15m/50ft in diameter, which was built as an observatory in 1642 and now houses a small collection of material connected with the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe. The platform, from the top of which there is a magnificent panoramic view of Copenhagen, is reached by a wide spiral ramp. The tower is the one referred to in Hans Christian Andersen's story "The Tinder Box"