About
Cirkelbroen is a pedestrian and cycling bridge in Copenhagen, Denmark, crossing the canal in the Christianshavn district. It was designed by the artist Olafur Eliasson, and it is as much a sculpture as a way across the water.
What you will see
The bridge is built around a sequence of circular platforms, five in all, linked along its length. Slender masts rise from them, and their lines suggest ship rigging. The design is a deliberate nod to the harbour's maritime past, when the canals and quays of this part of the city were busy with working vessels.
Because the circles open out over the water, the structure looks different from almost every angle. It is a photogenic spot, and many visitors stop as much to look at the bridge as to use it.
Why visit
- A relaxed waterside stroll, on foot or by bike
- A chance to see a work of contemporary design in an everyday setting
- A link between the harbour areas that makes a good part of a wider walk
Christianshavn itself rewards a wander. Its canals, waterside paths and old harbour setting give the bridge its context, so a visit here can easily be combined with time in the surrounding streets and along the water.