Freetown Christiania, Autonomous community in Christianshavn, Denmark.
Freetown Christiania is a self-governed settlement on former military land in Christianshavn, covering 34 hectares near the old ramparts. Within the fenced perimeter stand self-built houses, cafés, workshops, and venues scattered along unpaved paths and green areas.
In September 1971, local residents occupied an abandoned barracks site and declared it a free zone. The Danish government passed a special law in 1989 that legally recognized the status of the settlement.
Residents organize concerts and exhibitions that often take place in converted workshops or outdoors. Visitors notice handmade signs, improvised stages, and a relaxed approach to public space that differs from the rest of the city.
The entrances are open during the day and lead into a network of paths that visitors explore on foot or by bicycle. Photography is not allowed in certain areas, and signs indicate where restrictions apply.
The area issues its own postage stamps and has a local currency called Løn, accepted in some shops. The community also runs its own kindergarten and postal service.
Location: Copenhagen Municipality
Inception: September 1971
Founders: Jacob Ludvigsen
Address: Sydområdet 4E, 1440 København
Phone: +4551171790
Website: http://christiania.org
GPS coordinates: 55.67359,12.59971
Latest update: December 2, 2025 23:04
This collection brings together urban locations away from the usual routes, ranging from historic churches and public gardens to libraries, museums, and markets. The selection includes underground salt mines in Poland, converted railway stations in Rotterdam, rooftop gardens in London, abandoned listening stations in Berlin, butterfly gardens in Laos, a transformed bookstore in Buenos Aires, and a canal system running through the old town buildings of Lyon. Some of these places sit in quiet neighborhoods or on city edges, while others hide within busy districts. They show architecture from different centuries, religious sites from various traditions, art projects on former industrial land, and markets that have grown in unusual settings. Some spots offer insight into local ways of life, others tell stories of historical change or artistic experiments. The collection connects places that are often overlooked but worth visiting.
Copenhagen brings together centuries of history with recent construction in a walkable city by the water. Nyhavn lines the harbor with narrow houses painted in strong colors, where wooden ships dock beside outdoor cafes. The Little Mermaid sits on a rock at the edge of the sound, a bronze figure that has drawn visitors since the early 20th century. Christiansborg Palace rises near the old city center, while Amalienborg forms a royal residence around an octagonal plaza. The Opera House stands across the harbor with a flat, cantilevered roof, and The Black Diamond adds a modern glass facade to the Royal Library. Further out, The Blue Planet aquarium curves along the coast in Ørestad, and the VM Houses show angular residential design in the same district. Parks and gardens spread across the city, offering green space and different moods. The Botanical Garden collects plants from around the world under glass domes and in open beds. Superkilen Park stretches through the Nørrebro neighborhood with colored surfaces and objects gathered from many countries. King's Garden surrounds Rosenborg Castle with tree-lined paths and lawns where people sit in warm weather. Assistens Cemetery lies quiet among the streets, used both as a burial ground and a place to walk. Tivoli Gardens mixes rides, stages, and flower beds in the center of the city. Strøget runs as a long pedestrian street through the old town. Freetown Christiania remains a self-governed neighborhood with painted buildings and its own rules. Dragør preserves old fishing cottages and cobblestones just outside the capital.
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