Why to visit Denmark 2: 3 more reasons to come

Why to visit Denmark 2: 3 more reasons to come

1. FREETOWN CHRISTIANA

One of the fascinating locations in Denmark is Freetown Christiana,

Christiania
Source 

a community in Copenhagen infamous for its very own liberated set of rules. Here, you will discover anarchism rampant, the hippie motion greater alive than ever, yoga as the maximum famous activity, a constrained variety of personal cars allowed, a thriving gay residence, and each academics and jobless people taking sanctuary - which makes it an entirely unique world of its own. You may even locate hash and skunk weed brazenly bought in many stores alongside Pusher road, despite the fact that that is something Denmark is attempting to ratify.

2. THE HAPPIEST LOCATION ON THE PLANET

Between its many accolades and honors, Denmark has received the distinction of being the happiest place on earth, and you may find this easy to recognize once you visit Denmark. In its capital city, Copenhagen, on its own, you may locate Danes smiling even as shopping along Europe's longest pedestrian streets, having a family picnic at the Tivoli Gardens. Or playing a carefree walk in the gardens of the Amalienborg Palace, especially during the country's seemingly endless summer season days. Even in iciness while the sun rarely shines, leisure activities abound, while there are fairs scattered in the course of the year, just like the three-day Carnival of Copenhagen, the equally colourful Aalborg Carnival, the Odense Global Days of Blues and the Holmsboe pageant in Horsens. Indeed, in case you had been a Dane, you'll be glad, too.

www.gammeldansk.dk

3. DANISH MEALS

For its cuisine, Denmark has diverse nearby specialties like pan-fried plaice with wild berries in Skagen, Pram-Rager-Ryde (lumps of beef with Viscount St. Albans and coarsely chopped veggies) in Gudena. Also cabbage sausage in southern Jutland and bide sild (herring soaked in brine) in Mon, while open sandwiches or Smorrebrod may be found nearly everywhere. For tasty Danish gourmand dishes, attempt eating out at one of the Michelin-starred eating places within the country, like Formel B, eating place Ensemble, restaurant Herman, and Noma.

For drinks, you will find Fisk,Gammel Dansk,GaJol, in Danish pubs, as well as champagne and fruit wines served in Danish eating places, despite the fact that Denmark stays a large nation, with nearly a hundred microbreweries. Famous breweries include those in Herslev, Refsvindinge, and Bogedal, in which beer brewing is considered an artwork and completed the traditional manner - with human arms or old skool generation - which lead them to worth sights while you go to Denmark. You'll also discover Gløgg or warm punch all round in the course of Christmas, which is much enjoyed with the roast goose or special rice porridge that incorporates the Julefrokost or Christmas ceremonial dinner.

Why to visit Denmark 1

If you like a 'COOL' country

Denmark is extraordinarily cool because of its northern region, it sports activities, also a mean maximum temperature of about 17 degrees Celsius in August! Because of this in case you're into being cold, it's a magnificent region to visit. The winters average around 0 degrees Celsius in January, so the snow stays around for some time. It is not as bad as it sounds in reality :) But there is a reason why Danes tend to spend the winter season in warmer climates. 

Denmark has been described as a charming country with a top-notch business weather, in addition to the least corrupt and 2nd most non-violent country in the world.  

Copenhagen

Vacationists from everywhere around the world arrive by sea, air, or land to experience Copenhagen's best sites inclusive of the Tivoli (www.tivoli.dk), a famous garden and the second one oldest amusement park in the world offering exciting curler coasters. Tivoli Garden also has beautiful fountains, flower beds, and lovely custom-designed lighting fixtures at some point of the park, as well as the Tivoli live performance hall, a crucial venue for classical tunes. 

The Little Mermaid
Source: www.pinterest.com

Every other popular tourist hotspot is the Little Mermaid image which sits on a rock near the water at the Langelinie promenade. The statue has been an icon in Copenhagen ever since 1913 and is based totally on the fairy story via Hans Christian Andersen. Here you can find a nice infographic about the statue. 

Copenhagen is likewise a home to several castles, restaurants, museums, and is the vicinity to be to revel in exciting night time lifestyles.

If we caught your attention, keep on reading the next part of this series.

New Carlsberg Glyptotheque

What does the Carlsberg beer have to do with art? Why is one of the most important Danish museums is called Carlsberg? Read the short article below to find it out.

Facts:

The facade

• Built: 1882
• Style: Historicist: the facade is neo-renessance, while some other parts are neo-classical
• Website: www.glyptoteket.com

Everyone heard of the Carlsberg beer but not many know that the Jacobsen family, that established the Carlsberg brand, was also fond of arts. To be exact Carl Jacobsen, the son of the founder of the Carlsberg Breweries was a sculpture collector. Initially he kept his art collection in his house, where he had 19 galleries. This house-museum is the first Carlsberg Glyptotheque. When he realised that the  house-museum was too small, Carl Jacobsen decided to donate his collection of sculptures to the State of Denmark and the City of Copenhagen, with the condition that the authorities had to provide a suitable property to the collection. This became the New Carlsberg Glypthotheque (new in Danish is ny). Today the museum is run jointly by the Danish state and the New Carlsberg Foundation.

Carl Jacobsen

The collection

The museum has a really wide range collection of artefacts. From the very ancient Mesopotamian civilisation, through Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, to the French and Danish art from the 19th century. Besides these permanent exhibitions the museum offers temporary exhibitions year-round. 

The building

Architect Vilhelm Dahlerup was appointed by Carl Jacobsen to design the new museum building for the French and Danish collections. This part of the building was built in neo-renaissance style (to be exact venetian renaissance). This part of the museum was opened in 1897. However, Jacobsen soon realised that the building is not big enough. He wanted to provide suitable premises to the antique collection. This time Jacobsen decided to hire Hack Kampmann, who designed the extension in neo-classical style. Dahlerup also built a winter garden in between the two main buildings. The extended museum opened in 1907.

Nimb, a Moorish palace in the centre of Copenhagen

Serving as an oriental restaurant and hotel, Nimb is maybe the most outstanding architectural piece in the Tivoli Gardens, just opposite the Central Station.

Facts

Source: www.nimb.dk

• Built: 1909
• Style: historicist (Moorish inspired)
• Website: www.nimb.dk

Background

Tivoli gardens (amusement park) was opened in 1843 in Copenhagen. Already back then there was a 'bazaar area' with Chinese cuisine in the place of the present Nimb. When a fire broke out in 1862 this oriental part of the Tivoli burnt down. The new building in oriental-Moorish style was built in 1909 after the plans of the architect and at the same time also Tivoli director, Knud Arne Petersen.

But why Nimb?

The name Nimb refers to a family that has a long tradition with gastronomy in Copenhagen. Willam and Louise Nimb started their first restaurant in Tivoli Gardens, near the lake already in 1877. This restaurant, was called DIVAN 2 or as many city dwellers referred to it 'Nimb's Terrasse'.

A family business

The two daughters, Henriette and Serina Nimb, took an active part in running the restaurant. Henriette became chef and Serina was working as the matron and was responsible for that the house was in order. 

Nation-wide fame

Source: http://www.taxafinn.dk/Nimb.jpg

In 1930, thanks to the Danish National Broadcasting Company (DR), Nimb became famous across the country because of the live broadcasts of contemporary dance music.

Architecture

Nimb was built in the historical-Moorish-arab style, that makes the palace look like and enchanted middle-east palace from the One Thousand and One Nights fairy tale. The facade arabesques are made of Italian marble stucco. Inside the building, Dinnensen wooden floors and Oland granite adds a lot to the oriental atmosphere. 

Knippel's Bridge

One of the two major bridges of Copenhagen is Knippel's Bridge (Knippels Bro in Danish). But who was Mr. Knippel?

Knippel's Bridge with a tram in 1969
Source: www.tog-billeder.dk

Facts

• Built: 1935-1937
• Length: 115 m
• Width: 27,4 m
• Type: bascule bridge

From defence works to a bascule bridge

The first bridge in the Harbour of Copenhagen was built by (not surprisingly) IV Christian king of Denmark. Most of today's architecture sights in Copenhagen were raised by this king. That bridge, which was constructed between 1618-1620, connected the old city with the new defence works called Christianshavn. Christianshavn (today name of a district) had the purpose to protect the city from attack coming form the see. Today's bridge is the latest 'descendent' of the original bridge from the 17th century.

Burmeister Bridge
Source: www.chrarkiv.dk

Later in 1712 the original bridge was replaced by a new wooden one. This wooden bridge is notable because of the four Hercules statues, that were erected as decorations.

A century later, in 1816, the wooden bridge was rebuilt once again, however instead of the four Hercules statues they decorated it with four wooden figures called: The Four Winds.

As the wooden structure became outdated, a new iron bridge was built next to the old one in 1869, according to the plans of Burmeister and Wain Company. Hence, locals called the new iron bridge 'Burmeister Bridge'.

200 kronor banknote

In 1908 a new iron bridge was built by the architect Axel Berg.

Finally in 1937 the Knippel's Bridge gained its recent shape by Kaj Gottlob architect, who totally rebuilt the bridge.

Mr. Knippel

Initially the bridge was called 'Great Amager Bridge' or 'Long Bridge' (Don't mix it up with the Langebro, which is the other or the two present bridges). However, the local population started to call the bridge Knippel's Bridge after Hans Knippel, who was the caretaker and toll collector of the bridge and his house (Knippel's House) stood at the Amager side of the bridge.

Knippel's Bridge with tram line nr. 2
Source: www.vognstyrer.dk

Interesting

This bridge is drawn on the 200 kronor banknote since 2009.

From 1863 until 1972 many trams were running on the streets of Copenhagen until a political decision was made to replace them with buses. Tram line nr. 2 was crossing the harbour on Knippel's Bridge (see picture up and to the right).

The characteristic green control tower of the bridge is rarely used anymore as it is very unusual nowadays to open up the bascule bridge. However, the distinct green tower is still a symbolic part of the capital city and even appears in movies like the 'Olsen-bandens sidste be drifter' from 1974.

Video

The video shows Knippel's Bridge in 1969 (from 1' 5 sec).

Frederiksberg Town Hall

The town hall of this little enclave within Copenhagen, the Frederisberg Municipality Town Hall (Frederiksber Rådhus) offers a spectacular view and music from its Clock Tower.

Facts

Frederiksberg Town Hall
Source: Det Kongelige Biblioteks billedsambling

• Built: 1942-1953
• Height of the clock tower: 60 meters
• Address: Smallegade 1-3, Frederiksberg
• Telephone: +45 3821 2121

Background

Since the Frederiksberg Municipality experienced a population growth the council decided to erect a new town hall, that could provide sufficient workplace for the growing number of public servants. The architect of the building is the Danish Henning Hansen, who actually died in 1945, seven years before the town hall was inaugurated.

Interesting

A mechanic in the control door of the clock.
Source: www.taarnurmageren.dk

Shortly after the construction was begun the works had to be suspended and delayed because of the events of the Second World War. The building was only finished and opened in 1953, more than ten years after the constructions started.

Nowadays there are more than 800 public servants working in the building every day.

There is chimes every day five times from the clock tower. They play different melodies adjusted to the season at 9,12, 15, 18, and 22 o'clock. You can find the program by clicking here.

Useful hint

If you want to visit the Town Hall of Frederiksberg you can do that on the first Saturday of every month. Groups can also book other appointments for the visit. During the guided tour you have the chance to see the wedding hall, a huge painting by Sikker Hansen, the city council meeting room, the event hall, and the Clock Tower. The latter one is 60 meters tall compared to the street level.

Video about the clock tower from 1953

Axelborg

Türck, Sven (1897-1954) fotograf
Source: Det Kongelige Biblioteks billedsamling1

Axelborg is a notable building in the Axeltorv square in downtown Copenhagen. This is the first structure that stands out for the tourists when they leave the Central Railway station and is counted among the oldest office buildings in Copenhagen.

Facts

Built: 1918-1921

Address: Axeltorv 1

Background

Axelborg in 1925 with the old tram lines.
Adolf Feller (1879-1931) postkartensamlung.
Source: ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Bildarchiv 

The building was designed by the architects Arthur Wittmaack and Vilhelm Hvalsøe. The Den Danske Andelsbank and the Arbejdernes Andels-Boligforening ordered the construction of the building, and as both had an agricultural background, the building is considered to be the centre of agriculture in Denmark. At the time of construction, the Axelborg was considered to be among the largest buildings in Copenhagen, second only to the Christiansborg Palace. It was used between 1928 and 1943 by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation and today, it houses the Danish Agricultural Council.    

History

The Axelborg Room located at the center of the structure used to house the bank’s main offices. At the time, a paternoster lift was constructed which can still be experienced and gives a rare glimpse into what everyday life might have been like in the past. After the Den Danske Andelsbank went bankrupt in 1925, the Arbejdernes Andels-Boligforening followed suit by running into problems and had to vacate Axelborg. The building then housed a group of agricultural companies and the farmers became the official occupants. Their hold over the place did not last long and like their former occupants, the farmers were replaced by the Danish Broadcasting Corporation in 1928. Later on, in 2000, Bojesen occupied three floors of the old building, including the Axelborg room and former bank vaults.

Other interesting facts

With a stunning and intricate interior design and its remarkable acoustics due to the high ceiling and wood-covered walls, the main hall is usually employed for meetings and conferences. One of the standout structures is the tower that provides an extraordinary view from inside the hall (see the last picture).  

Interior today.
Source: http://www.aaretskage.dk

The amazing tower, from the main hall.
Source: http://www.trekearth.com