Køge

Køge

Location of Køge in Denmark

Køge (older spelling Kjøge) is a seaport and the main town in Køge Municipality, Region Sjælland, Denmark with an agglomeration population of 34,792 (January 1, 2008),^[1] including the suburbs of Køge Nord (Ølby Lyng and Ølsemagle Lyng) to the north and Herfølge to the south. Køge is located about 39 km/24 miles southwest of Copenhagen at the end of a line of the Copenhagen S-train system and has a well-preserved old town centre.

History

Køge was official 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 persons were convicted of witchcraft and burned at the stake. Køge suffered during the wars between Denmark and Sweden and remained a small town until the late 19th. century when industrial development and population growth began. And today Køge is the main part of the 16th largest urban area in Denmark.

Places

The oldest dated half-timbered house in Denmark can be found in Køge. It was build in 1527 and is now a part of the local library. Pictures can be found in the gallery.

Near the house is Sankt Nicolai Church. A lighthouse is built in the tower of the church and was the first lighthouse in all of Denmark.

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

Køge Torv (The market square or town square) is the largest town square in Denmark outside Copenhagen.

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

Gallery

Køge in the winter	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	Modern photo of the oldest dated house in Køge and Denmark
Looking down Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge. Køge's church (Sankt Nicolai Kirke is behind the trees.	Old houses on Kirkestræde (Church Street) in Køge	Statue of King Frederik VII in the center of Køge's town square.	Part of Kjøge Miniby (Kjøge Mini-Town) the historical Mini-Town

See also

• Køge station
• Nearby towns: Greve Strand, Roskilde, Ringsted and Haslev.
• Chronicle of the Expulsion of the Grayfriars#Chapter 10 Concerning the Friary in Køge

References

1. ^ BEF44 Population 1 January, by urban areas database from Statistics Denmark