Journey back to the 1740s. We are standing in front of Wedells Palæ. Originally known as Barchmanns Palæ, this Baroque mansion whispers tales of affluent merchants and noble families.
Wedells Palæ stands proudly on the corner of Ny Kongensgade and Frederiksholms Kanal. Philip de Lange designed this impressive building. Construction took place from 1740 to 1741.
Jacob Barchmann, a wealthy man, commissioned the palace. Ironically Barchmann never lived here. Instead, he rented it to foreign envoys. An extension was added in 1748. It stretched along the canal and Ny Kongensgade.
Let’s talk owners. The list of owners of Wedells Palæ is long and varied. After Barchmann’s death his widow kept the property. In 1779, John and William Brown acquired the mansion. But they went bankrupt.
Christopher Hansteen bought it in 1788. Then came Carl Henrik Wilster in 1795. Philip Ryan, originally from Saint Croix, acquired it in 1800. John Christmas owned it later the same year. Jens Friedenreich Hage was next in 1804.
In 1809, Jacob Salomon Meyer, a Jewish merchant, took ownership. The industrious landowner Jacob Brønnum Scavenius acquired Wedells Palæ in 1811. His widow continued to own it after his death. The Scavenius family held it until 1877.
Willum Frederik Treschow acquired the property in 1898. His widow, Andrea Bjørn Rothe, owned it until her death in 1884. In 1885, Mogens Count Friis acquired the mansion.
The Wedell family gained possession in 1923. Inger Wedell inherited it from her father. Since 1982, the Krag-Juel-Vind-Frijs/Wedells family has owned it. Bendt Wedell has owned Wedells Palæ since 2008.
Notice the architecture. Wedells Palæ is a three-winged building. It has two storeys and a mansard roof. The main facade faces Ny Kongensgade. The original building has seven bays towards the canal and nine towards the street. It features red brick and sandstone pilasters. A giant order cornice decorates the building.
Look at the extension along the canal. Note the red brick pilasters instead of sandstone. The cornice is omitted here. Thorvald Jørgensen altered the building in 1903.
Today, Johan Borup’s Folk High School occupies part of the palace since 1926. Wedells Palæ stands as a testament to Copenhagen’s rich history and architectural beauty. It has witnessed centuries of change. It continues to stand, a proud landmark in the heart of the city. Wedells Palæ remains a captivating blend of history, architecture, and culture.