The Siren's Secret — Uncover the Hidden Rescue Network

Your journey begins on Kultorvet, a historic square in the Gammelholm district, which served as a coal market since the 17th century. Surrounded by 18th-century gabled houses, this square was the scene of popular gatherings during the War of Liberation from 1943-1945. In its center, Vilhelm Bissen's 1896 fountain, adorned with sirens, symbolizes hopes for freedom. From there, you head to Krystalgade, a cobblestone street in Latinerkvarteret, named after 18th-century crystal manufacturers. Its listed 17th-18th century buildings, with their stucco facades, served as discreet hiding places for Danish resistance fighters and Jewish refugees during the October 1943 rescue operation. Here you explore the first clues of a clandestine network.

Continuing your scavenger hunt in Copenhagen, you reach Gråbrødretorv, a 14th-century square, former cemetery of the Franciscans since 1238. Its 17th-century patrician houses, like Terkel Kleven's from 1615 at No. 21, and its 18th-century central well, create a medieval alley atmosphere. This discreet location was ideal for secret transmissions during the Resistance. Nearby stands Vor Frue Kirke, Copenhagen's Church of Our Lady. Built between 1190 and 1209 in Romanesque style, with its Gothic tower added in 1680, it was rebuilt after the 1807 fire. Its 1829 neoclassical basements, designed by C.F. Hansen, sheltered Jewish refugees, offering an unexpected sanctuary in the heart of Copenhagen's UNESCO World Heritage site.

Your itinerary then leads you to Gammel Strand, a historic 13th-century quay along the canal, lined with 17th-century Dutch houses. This location was a crucial departure point for fishing boats that helped rescue 7,200 Jews to Sweden in October 1943. The Neptune Fountain from 1886 by August Saabye attests to the site's maritime importance. The thematic circuit continues to Nyhavn, a canal built between 1670 and 1673 by order of Christian V. The colorful houses from 1681 along the 400 meters of the canal were essential transit points for the Jewish escape network. This historical monument in Denmark was the base for many fishermen involved in these sea escapes to Sweden, offering a concrete insight into the Rescue of Jews in Copenhagen.

The route then takes you to Amalienborg Slotsplads, the octagonal square built between 1749 and 1760, surrounded by four identical rococo palaces by Nicolas de Gardane. The balcony of Christian VIII's Palace (No. 4) was the site of royal speeches during the Liberation on May 5, 1945, a symbol of King Christian X's passive resistance under Nazi occupation. The Royal Guard, present since 1658, maintained a presence that subtly defied the occupier. Finally, you arrive at Kastellet, a star-shaped fortress built between 1662 and 1664 by Christian V. Its 1.4 km enclosure served as a military prison for Danish Resistance detainees from 1940 to 1945. Its nearby port, Langelinie, also served as a secret embarkation point for many refugees to Sweden.

This interactive tour of Copenhagen, a true GPS treasure hunt, allows you to discover Sjaelland's monuments and Copenhagen's history in a unique way. From Kultorvet to Kastellet, passing through the historic Latinerkvarteret district, you walk in the footsteps of heroes who, like Kim Malthe-Bruun, worked for freedom, and the German diplomat George Ferdinand Duckwitz who warned of the round-up. You take with you not only memories of baroque facades and picturesque canals, but also a deep understanding of the Danish Resistance of 1943 and the rescue of Jews in Copenhagen. This thematic circuit in Sjaelland is an immersion in a period where ordinary heroism changed the course of history.