Kristen Bernikows Gade is a street in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It extends north from the major shopping street Strøget to Grønnegade where it turns into Gammel Mønt. Together with Bremerholm, its extension to the south, it forms one of only two places where car traffic crosses pedestrianized Strøget on its way from Kongens Nytorv to the City Hall Square, the other being at Gammeltorv-Nytorv. The street is named for the nobleman Christian Barnekow, one of Christian IV's men, whose city home was located on the site. Most of the buildings date from a widening of the street in around 1900. They include the shopping archade Galleri K.
Kristen Bernikows Gade
Kristen Bernikows Stræde, photographed by Johannes Hauerslev
BT House
Bernikowgården
Christian Barnekow (1556–1612)
Christian Barnekow was a Danish nobleman, estate holder and diplomat. He was noted for his extensive travels.
He is remembered for sacrificing his own life in an effort to save that of Christian IV in the Battle of Skillingehed at Varberg in Halland. He is thus credited with giving his horse to the king with the words "I give my horse to the king, my life to the enemy and my soul to God". His holdings included Birkholm and Tølløsegård at Holbæk. The street Kristen Bernikows Gade in Copenhagen is named after him. It is located on the site of his former city home.
Christian Barnekow's sacrifice, 1612.