Jim Nutty Photography

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The Jester

Built as an astronomical observatory in the 17th century, the Rundetaarn (Round Tower) is a must-see for anyone visiting Copenhagen. You enter on street level and spiral your way up nearly 150 feet on a gentle ramp. While it provides a great view of the surrounding city from the top, the inside design was what caught my eye.

I stopped about halfway to the top to take this image. There was a small alcove behind me where I sat down and waited for the area to clear. I found the complexity of the design to be magnificent for something built in 1642. While the floor slowly spirals up, the ceiling does not just mirror the spiral. Instead, it features repeating triangular sections that catch the light and cast shadow from the surrounding windows.

Beautiful shapes that, to me, resemble an eccentric cap & bells hat of a court jester.