Tall round towers are common in Denmark, Russia, and many other countries of the world. They can be considered as part of castles and fortresses. Some are only a couple of ancient stones preserved to this day, while others look almost unchanged by centuries of merciless time.

The Round Tower in Copenhagen is very different from all the other buildings that adorn medieval defensives. It has never been part of an ancient complex, and neither has it served as a viewing deck. It housed the oldest astronomical observatory in Europe, owned by the University of Copenhagen.

The Round Tower in the Danish capital was designed by the famous architect Hans van Steenwinckel the Younger. The world's first scientist to measure the speed of light, the great Danish astronomer Ole Romer, used this tower and the ancient observatory placed in it as a workplace. The stone tower was also chosen by another well-known native of Copenhagen. The world-famous storyteller Hans Christian Andersen compared the Round Tower to the huge dog's eyes in his fairy tale "Tinderbox".

Today, the Round Tower is a symbol of Copenhagen and one of the most famous buildings in Denmark. Its unusual design amazes even modern visitors. So can you imagine how astonishing it was for medieval citizens? For example, it is not a spiral staircase that leads to the top of this tower but a 209-meter-long paved road.

According to local legend, King Christian IV was the first person to ascend to the tower's top floor during its inauguration ceremony. Then the Czar Peter the Great of Russia rode into the tower on horseback during his visit to Denmark. The Russian Empress Elizabeth I entered the tower sitting in her carriage. Today, the Round Tower hosts an annual competition to see who is the fastest to drive up and down the tower road on a racing bike. The one who rides without falling wins.