Cisternerne, Underground art museum in Frederiksberg, Denmark.
Cisternerne is an underground art museum located within Søndermarken park, housed inside a former water reservoir. The space features curved chambers with reflective water surfaces that create an unusual setting for contemporary art exhibitions and installations.
This underground structure was built in the 1800s as Copenhagen's main water storage facility and supplied drinking water to the city until it stopped operating around the mid-1900s. It later transformed into an art museum, giving new life to the abandoned underground chambers.
Artists use the extraordinary space to create works that respond directly to the water, light, and stone around them, turning the old reservoir into a gallery unlike any other. Visitors experience how contemporary art and the historic structure become partners in telling a story.
The museum is easiest to reach by public transport, as it sits within Søndermarken park with good bus and metro connections nearby. The underground rooms can feel cool and damp, so wearing appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear is a good idea.
Water still flows through sections of the museum, creating natural echoes and reflections that enhance the artworks in surprising ways. This constant movement of water means no two visits feel quite the same.
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