Rolighed (Østerbro)

History

Rolighed (the Danish word means "tranquility") had originally been built around 1800 as a one-storey house with a mansard and a large garden. The Jewish merchant Moritz Melchior and his wife Dorothea acquired it in the 1850s as a summer residence. In 1869, they had it completely rebuilt in the style of Rosenborg Castle with a tower and rounded Dutch gables.

Hans Christian Andersen connection

Moritz and Dorothea Melchior entertained a variety of famous guests from the late 1850s when the family business really began to prosper. The most famous of these were certainly Hans Christian Andersen who was a frequent visitor, first in their home on Højbro Plads then increasingly at Rolighed where, in 1866, he was given his own room with a balcony overlooking the Øresund.

Moritz' brother, Israel, a keen amateur photographer was also a frequent visitor. Andersen, who was interested in photography himself, and he became good friends with the result that Israel took many photographs of family gatherings at Rolighed together with Andersen.

Andersen had become increasingly ill after a fall in 1872. He relied increasingly on the care the Melchiors gave him, spending long periods at Rolighed. On 12 June 1875, he arrived there for the last time. A week later he was no longer able to write his diary which instead he dictated to the Melchiors and their children. At 11 a.m. on 4 August, he died peacefully in his bed.

Commemorative plaque

The house was demolished in 1898 to be replaced by today's apartment building. A plaque has been erected, commemorating Andersen's place of death. It contains two lines from a short poem by Andersen, testifying to his feelings for Rolighed:

Mit hjem i Hjemmet, hvor bag Hyldens Hang mit Liv fik Solskin og min Harpe Klang

which can be translated into English as:

My home in the home, behind the elderflower Gave sunshine to my life and made my harp ring