Embassy of France, Copenhagen

The French Embassy in Copenhagen is the main diplomatic mission of France to the Kingdom of Denmark. It is located in the Thott Palace at Kongens Nytorv 4 in central Copenhagen, Denmark. The ambassador since October 8, 2013 is François Zimeray.

French Embassy in Denmark
LocationCopenhagen
AddressKongens Nytorv 4
Coordinates55°40′52″N 12°35′14″E
AmbassadorVéronique Bujon-Barré

Thott Palace

The building now housing the French Embassy was built for the Danish naval hero Niels Juel from 1683 to 1686 as the just second building on Kongens Nytorv which, inspired by the royal squares of Paris, had been laid out by Christian V of Denmark in the years following his coronation in 1670.[1] With his victory in the Battle of Køge Bay, Niels Juel had won fame and wealth. His new mansion was designed by Lambert van Haven as an L-shaped building in the Dutch Baroque style.[2]

After Niels Juel's death in 1697, the king, Christian V of Denmark, arranged for his official mistress and mother to five of his children, Sophie Amalie Moth, to take over his mansion.[3] She immediately passed it on to him and the king's eldest son, Christian Gyldenløve, who around 1700 extended the building with a third wing.[2]

In 1769, the palace was acquired by Otto Thott, who had the facade towards modernized to the design of Nicolas-Henri Jardin in 1763–64. The property remained in the belonging of the Thott family until 1930 when it was purchased by the French state and turned into the French Embassy in Denmark.[2]

Cultural activities

The Embassy is today also used as a venue for a multitude of activities including conferences, lectures, wine tastings and guided tours.[4]

Further reading

Jeanne-Louise Hermite (1933):La vie d’un palais danois Kjær, Ulla and Florence Talbot: Det Thottske Palæ/Le Palais Thott. Copenhagen 2006. Text in Danish and French, forewords by former ambassador Anne Gazeau-Secret and HRH Prince Henrik

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References
  1. "Kongens Nytorv". Selskabet for Københavns Historie. Archived from the original on 2007-10-22. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  2. "Thotts Palæ". Gyldendal. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
  3. "Søheltens palæ på Kongens Nytorv". Berlingske. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
  4. "Bog om Det Thottske Palæ". Institute Francais. Retrieved 2009-08-30.


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