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.

Posted on April 8th, 2025 under Denmark. Tags: buildings, copenhagen, kobenhavn, living in copenhagen, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens, Nikon D750, university of copenhagen. Comments Off on University of Copenhagen Dungeon

University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet – July 2017)

Posted on March 14th, 2025 under Denmark. Tags: buildings, copenhagen, kobenhavn, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens, Nikon D750, university of copenhagen. Comments Off on Castle early

The Central Hall of the University Library in Fiolstræde for the University of Copenhagen (July 2017)

Built in 1861, University Library in Fiolstræde was winding up its existence this past summer when I took this photo. If you look closely you’ll see lots of empty shelves. The books were being moved out. I’m not sure what will happen to this space.

Posted on January 11th, 2018 under Denmark. Tags: buildings, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens, Nikon D750, university of copenhagen. Comments Off on Final days of The Central Hall of the University Library in Fiolstræde for the University of Copenhagen

Built in 1853, I was lucky enough to get views from every angle of the classic Ceremonial Hall on the campus of the University of Copenhagen this past summer. In the summer of 2018 I plan to experience my fifth summer in Denmark.

Posted on October 18th, 2017 under Denmark. Tags: buildings, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens, Nikon D750, university of copenhagen. Comments Off on Ceremonial Hall interior @ University of Copenhagen

As mentioned previously, the private tour of the campus of the University of Copenhagen was rather special.

The building pictured today was the home of the Zoological Museum from 1870 until 1967. Since then it has been an administration building for the university. If you look closely you can see some of the sculptures that have been part of the architecture for 150 years.

I’ll post more photos of this beautiful place (especially since the public is no longer allowed to enter) soon. Here is what it looked like in 1868 before opening.

Posted on August 18th, 2017 under Denmark. Tags: buildings, living in copenhagen, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 20mm f/1.8G ED Lens, Nikon D750, university of copenhagen. Comments Off on Administration building interior @ University of Copenhagen