Gazing up at this sturdy tower, one might mistake Kridttårnet for a medieval fortress. But this limestone sentinel holds a secret. Kridttårnet, also known as the Carlsberg Lighthouse, wasn’t built to guide ships. It was built to guide beer lovers. In 1883, J.C. Jacobsen, of Carlsberg Brewery fame, constructed this unique structure as part of a grand new entrance to his brewery. Kridttårnet, literally “Lime Tower,” reflects its primary building material, the very same limestone from Stevns used in the accompanying wall and gate. The gate itself proudly displayed “Gammel Carlsberg” in gilded letters, a testament to the brewery’s legacy and a subtle jab at Jacobsen’s son, Carl, who had started his own rival brewery, Ny Carlsberg. This wasn’t just a decorative flourish though. Jacobsen, a forward-thinking man, had already installed electric lighting in his brewery in 1882, a time when much of Copenhagen was still in the dark. The brewery’s location atop Valby Hill offered a panoramic view, making it the perfect place for a combined guardhouse and lighthouse. So Kridttårnet, a symbol of brewing pride and innovation, shone its beacon across the city, a testament to the ingenuity of its creator. Today, the light is gone, but Kridttårnet remains, a quirky landmark reminding us of a time when beer and lighthouses could go hand in hand. The tower and its accompanying gate, with its inscribed dates commemorating key moments in Carlsberg’s history, continue to stand as monuments to Jacobsen’s vision. In 2021, the Kridttårnet found a new purpose, housing the von Bartha art gallery, a continuation of its tradition of blending history with contemporary uses.
Galleri KANT
Founded in 2009 by Kerry Harm Nielsen and Anna Gram Sørensen Galleri KANT is more than just a gallery. It’s