Here stood the place of punishment

In front of the Copenhagen District Court building on Nytorv is a raised area past which I have walked many times. A few days ago I noticed there was a stone with some lettering carved in it. This is what I took a photo of and the word "kag" translates to a cat with nine tails!

Oh well, I thought, just another weird Danish tradition.

-RS

With The Law One Shall Build The Country

The District Court of Copenhagen is situated on Nytorv in the centre of Copenhagen. This Neoclassica building was inaugurated in 1815 and was built to the design of Christian Frederik Hansen.

The construction was started in 1803 and the project was delayed by scarcity of building materials as well as the British bombardment of the city in 1807 in the Battle of Copenhagen. Materials from the demolition of Hirschholm Palace were used for the building.

The building served a dual purpose for almost one hundred years, until the current Copenhagen City Hall was inaugurated in 1905. After that it has been exclusively used as the District Court of Copenhagen.

The inscription is from the Codex Holmiensis, the manuscript of the Danish Code of Jutland.

-RS