Press Information
July 2007

Golden Days in Copenhagen:

Copenhagen Cathedral on fire

This year's Golden Days festival marks the 200^th year anniversary of the bombardment of Copenhagen. From 1 - 2 September visitors and citizens can relive those fateful days in 1807 through a wide range of activities, city walks, talks and much more. And every night from 1 - 10 September Copenhagen Cathedral will be set on fire - as it was 200 years.

200 years ago the Copenhageners fled, and the houses were in flames when the English fired bombs over the city. With its high standing tower the Church of Our Lady, Copenhagen Cathedral, became the target of the foreign artillery for three nights of high tension.

Cultural weekend
On 1 and 2 September 2007 the Golden Days festival commemorates the bicentennial of the Battle of Copenhagen with a cultural weekend. There will be events for visitors of all ages - on both land and at sea. All over the city the visitors can experience exhibitions, concerts, city walks, historical soldiers and even contemporary art - all reflecting the events of 1807.

Saturday night children and adults can experience the atmosphere of nineteenth-century daily life in the church square Frue Plads - which will have period food, stalls, music and soldiers from Denmark, England and Norway in historical uniforms. This evening Golden Days opens up the old alleys and backyards on a variety of city walks exploring the historical streets.

In the harbour, the Admiral Danish Fleet casts anchor and invites all to board their modern naval ships. Soldiers in historical costumes will walk the streets of Copenhagen - and a range of museums present exhibitions with food for thought. Among others the Royal Danish Naval Museum opens an exhibition about the loss of the Danish fleet to Great Britain following the battle in 1807.

Copenhagen Cathedral goes up in flames
As a special part of the commemoration the Copenhagen Cathedral will burn again, when the hot artist couple Thyra Hilden & Pio Diaz from City on Fire 200 years after the bombardment lights up the church with a luminous video installation. The art piece will stand for ten days and nights. Last time the duo fanned the flames was at the art museum ARoS in Aarhus in January 2007, where they created the illusion that the museum was burning - all by the use of video projections.

Further information
Golden Days in Copenhagen
Iben Tandgaard, tel.: +45 3542 1432, email: iben@goldendays.dk
Or visit www.goldendays.dk

City of Fire
Julie Damgaard, tel.: +45 4698 6040, mobile: +45 2569 2762, email: julie@cityonfire.org
Or visit www.cityonfire.org