University of Copenhagen Dungeon
Københavns Universitet carceret
Until 1770, the University of Copenhagen had its own laws and the option of throwing students into its own dungeon in the Consistory Building (Konsistoriehuset). Prison sentences began from 1539, and the last official sentence of imprisonment was in 1712. However, unofficial sentences happened for decades after that.
Students were locked up for days or weeks, living on nothing but bread and water. Peasants who lived on the university’s land holdings also fell under the jurisdiction of the University of Copenhagen and could also be tossed into the dungeon. You would be sent to the dungeon for disorderly conduct in a state of drunkenness or disobedience to a professor. (Why doesn’t my university have this???) The same thing could happen if you complained about the food at the community dining facility.
On the old bricks in the dungeon, there are many names and dates scratched in. You can’t enter these more than 500 year old premises on your own anymore, but if you happen to know someone who works in the building, maybe they will take you on a private tour.
