Køge

Template: Infobox city in Denmark / Maintenance / height missing

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Køge [ Kø ː ə ] or [ Kø jə ː ] is a Zeeland seaport on the Køge Bugt. Administratively it belongs to the Danish region of Zealand and is the center of the homonymous municipality Køge with 57 771 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2013).

History

Køge is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Denmark. It was built by royal command near the coast and provided with a well-developed road network. On the large square in the city center every form of trade took place. Also here great jousting tournaments were held and completed on the large gallows public punishments. In 1288 Køge became a town and was then subsequently provided with a wall, a moat and massive city gates. However, all this was not enough to save the city from the invasion of Holstein, which they burned the mid-14th century.

End of the 14th century Køge grew into an important commercial metropolis that has developed over the next 250 years as one of the most important cities on Zealand. No other city can do so many well-preserved half-timbered houses and medieval cellar demonstrate how Køge. In the Kirkestræde you can visit Denmark's oldest house, built in 1527. The only parish church of the city at the time was St. Nicholas, which was expanded in the 15th century. The church tower was increased and provided with a bay window, which he later also serve as a lighthouse and could already be seen from the large harbor at the mouth of. Here also the Chapel of the Holy Cross was built for sailors. In Vestergade was erected the St. Gertrude's Chapel with a hostel for travelers who took her place behind the city gates. Directly opposite a Franciscan monastery was built, the especially the poor and the sick offered assistance. Next door, the arms Foundation Steen Boder was later built.

Shortly after the Reformation in 1536 a new town hall was built from the materials of former religious institutions. Today it serves as the town hall and is the longest in Denmark. In its dungeons early 17th century were kept at least 15 women caught on the pyre found an abrupt end later in the great witch trial.

1658-1660 Køge was occupied during the Danish- Swedish wars by Swedish troops. If the economic downfall of the once thriving town began. Køge recovered from this blow again only with the industrialization in the 19th century, when the increasing spread of the railways and the local economy led the recovery. Today Køge blooms again to its former glory and is once again a successful port and trade city in the Køgebucht which has a well -preserved historic center, which was created more than 700 years ago.

Attractions

• The picturesque cityscape has many half-timbered houses from the 16th and 17th centuries.
• The Nicolai church was built in the 14th century.
• Vallø Castle is located 7 km south of Køge.
• An impression of the life of the inhabitants of Køge in the Middle Ages and their working and economic way you can get at the Museum of Køge, which is a Grade II listed building, formerly merchant's housed.

Economy and infrastructure

Major industries include the rubber and paint manufacturing. Køge is located on the railway line Roskilde Næstved. Also, here ends the line E of the Copenhagen S-Bahn.

Personalities

• Søren Larsen ( born 1981 ), football player
• Sebastian Lander ( * 1991), rail and road cyclist