Højbro Plads

Højbro Plads (literally "High Bridge Square") is a rectangular public square located between the adjoining Amagertorv and Slotsholmen Canal in the City Centre of Copenhagen, Denmark. It takes its name from the Højbro Bridge which connects it to the Slotsholmen island on the other side of the canal while Gammel Strand extends along the near side of the canal.

The most striking feature of the square is an equestrian statue of Absalon, the warrior-bishop who has traditionally been credited as the founder of Copenhagen. It was inaugurated in 1901 to commemorate the septcentennial of his death.

A relatively new square, Højbro Plads was laid out following the Great Fire of 1795. Prior to the fire of 1795, Højbro Plads was the site of a dense block bounded by Højbrostræde to the west and Store Færgestræde to the east. The former connected Amagertorv to Højbro Bridge and Slotsholmen. The fire completely destroyed the area between present day Strøget and the canal.City architect Jørgen Henrich Rawert subsequently created a masterplan for the rebuilding of the area. Højbro Plads was laid out to create a fire break and in the same time contribute aesthetic qualities to the area. Most of the buildings lining the square date back to the years immediately after the fire.

Up through the 19th century the vegetable and flower market on Amagertorv spread to the new Højbro Plads. The butchers were referred to the nearby Nikolaj Plads.

The square was refurbished in 1995. The 22 lime trees on the square was planted in 1998 as the result of a private donation. Their placement on the square has been criticized by former city architect Otto Käszner.

Most of the buildings lining the square are examplars of the Neoclassical architecture which characterized the building boom following the fire and dominate much of the city centre seen today. Recurrent features are accented windows with triangular frontons supported by consoles, recessed joints, and friezes, usually above the second floor, decorated with patterns such as a Greek key or a Vitruvian scroll. The friezes were sold as standard goods and could be bought by the metre from the stucco workshops.

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