Koge Tourist Attractions
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ZealandKøge, an old port with notable industry, is situated south of Copenhagen on Koge Bay, on the east coast of Zealand.HistoryThe town was probably founded as a result of the profitable catches of herring in the Øresund and the associated fishing trade; it received its first privileges in 1288. Although until the end of the 16th C. trade was principally with towns in North Germany, the Dutch now came more to the fore; in addition, Køge became the home of woodcarvers, goldsmiths and shoemakers. The town suffered severely in the wars of the 17th C. The Danish maritime hero Niels Juel inflicted considerable damage on the Swedish fleet in Køge Bay in 1677. The town enjoyed a fresh upswing in the 19th C.
Torvet
The central part of Køge is old, with many pretty 16th and 17th C. timber-framed houses; the oldest, dating from 1527, is in Store Kirkestræde. In the very center of town lies the marketplace (Torvet), where the stocks once stood; witches' trials and the executions of those found guilty were carried out in Køge. A market is held on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Køge Municipal Museum
In Nørregade can be found the Køge Municipal Museum, where local collections are on view, including traditional costumes and other articles of clothing, agricultural implements, articles associated with the guilds and old furniture.
St Nicholas Church
Of interest in Koge is St Nicholas' Church, a Gothic building dating from 1450-1500. From the tower of this church King Christian V followed the Battle of Køge Bay in 1677, in the course of which the hero Niels Juel sank many Swedish ships. Inside the church, note the altar piece by Lorents Jørgensen, the pulpit, choir gallery and pews and several tombs of merchants from Køge.
Oluf Jensens Gård
Oluf Jensens Gård, a former merchant's residence at Brogade 7 in Koge, has storehouses in the interior courtyard and various other buildings, all of which combine to give a good idea of the design of such merchants' mansions in times gone by. The storehouse to the north houses the Koge Gallery, in which temporary exhibitions are held.
Harbor Monument
The monument "Battle in Køge Bay", which will be found near Koge harbor, is of considerable interest. This 9m/30ft high granite obelisk bears the name of the maritime heroes Niels Juel and Ivar Huitfeldt. Juel led the Danes to a decisive victory over the Swedes in 1677 and Huitfeldt commanded the ship "Danebrog" which caught fire when bombarded in 1710; he continued to fight on until the ship finally exploded.
Køge Art Museum of Sketches
This museum features 20th century Danish art with displays of sketches and models.
Surroundings
Vallø Castle
About 7 km/4 mi south of Køge stands Vallø Castle, a distinguished Renaissance building of 1586 which was completely rebuilt after a fire in 1893. It has two impressive towers, one round and the other square; it is surrounded by a park. Originally a royal palace, it was converted in 1738 into a home for gentlewomen.
Store Heddinge
Traveling southeast from Køge the visitor will arrive at the Stevens Peninsula and in another 22 km/14 mi reach the little country town of Store Heddinge, with its interesting octagonal church, built about 1200 and later altered.
Stevns Klint
6 km/4 mi to the east of Store Heddinge is Stevns Klint, a chalk escarpment, which extends along the shore and from it there is a magnificent view over the sea.The white crag, 41m/135ft high, near Hojerup is particularly beautiful, and here stands a little church of 1357 in the choir of which can be seen an even older chapel. According to legend this was built by a fisherman who had been rescued at sea. Since the sea has constantly eroded the chalk cliffs, the church - so the legend continues - moves inland a fraction on each New Year's night so as not to fall into the sea! In 1928 the choir collapsed and the rest of the church has now been made safe.In the early 1980s the scientist Walter Alvarez and his son, Luis, discovered an overabundance of rare earth element - iridium - in the rock layer separating the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary, dating 65 million years.This discovery provides major evidence of asteroid or comet collision with the earth which contributed to the destruction of the dinosaurs.
Koge Pictures
