Knippelsbro

Knippelsbro
File:Knippelsbro (Copenhagen).jpg
Coordinates
Carries	Motor vehicles, pedestrian and bicycle traffic
Crosses	Copenhagen Inner Harrbour
Locale	Slotsholmen Christianshavn
Characteristics
Design	Bascule bridge
Total length	115 m
Width	27 m
Clearance below	52 ft (16 m)
History
Designer	Kaj Gottlob
Opened	December 17, 1937

Knippelsbro (English: Knippel Bridge) is a bascule bridge across the Inner Harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, connecting Børsgade (English: Stock Exchange Street) on Zealand-side Slotsholmen to Torvegade (English: Market Street) on Christianshavn. It is one of only two bridges to carry motor vehicles across the harbour in central Copenhagen, the other being Langebro.

The bridge, the fifth on the site, is 115 metres long and was inaugurated in 1937.

History

The first bridge between Copenhagen and Christianshavn was constructed in 1618-20 by Christian IV. Even though it was constructed in wood, it was not renewed until 1816. The first iron bridge on the site was constructed in 1868-69.The iron bridge was renewed in 1908 and in 1934 replaced by an intermistic bridge. The current bridge was constructed in 1937 and is designed by architect Kaj Gottlob and was listed in 2007.

Name

The bridge was originally known as Store Amager Bro (English: Great Amager Bridge) or Langebro (English: Long Bridge) and from around 1700 Christianshavns Bro (English: Christianshavn's Bridge) is seen. The current name stems from Hans Knip who became bridge caretaker in 1641, in charge of operating the bridge and collecting tolls from passing ships. His house became known as Knippenshus and during the 17th century the bridge became known as Knippensbro. The current form of the name is seen from the second half of the 19th century but has never been officially approved.

Gallery

• Knippelsbro - C. F. Tietgens Hus.jpg

  View along the bridge from Christianshavn

• Knippelsbro.jpg

  One of the control towers

External links

• Listing by the Danish Heritage Agency