Fortification Ring, Copenhagen
Encyclopedia
The Fortification Ring (Danish
: Fæstningsringen) in Copenhagen
, Denmark
, is a collective name used to refer to the grounds where the city's old 17th century fortifications
used to lie, now surrounding the City Centre
. Since the fortifications were decommissioned in 1870, the Fortification Ring has been dominated by a number of parks and destinctive greenspace
s and it is still maintained and developed as a green belt
within the city limits. running between the city centre and the -bro districts. The ramparts, bastions and moats of the former fortifications are still clearly seen in the topography. At Christianshavn
and the citadel Kastellet
, the fortifications have been preserved and remain intact.
, on certain conditions, to take over the extensive areas which the fortifications had occupied till then. When an agreement fell into place in 1868, with effect from 1 January 1870, it stipulated that the City was required to use certain specified areas for green spaces. An area was to be put at the disposal of the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden
and a minimum of 300,000 square ell
(12 hectares) were to be laid out as public parks. In addition, a masterplan for the redevelopment of the area had to be approaced by the State.
A masterplan for the area was approaved in 1872 and ground work proceeded, first at the Northern Rampart. A revision of the masterplan in 1885 increased the area to be laid out as parkland to 23.5 hectares.
The decommissioning of the Christianshavn Rampart
finally followed in 1616.
Danish language
Danish is a North Germanic language spoken by around six million people, principally in the country of Denmark. It is also spoken by 50,000 Germans of Danish ethnicity in the northern parts of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, where it holds the status of minority language...
: Fæstningsringen) in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, is a collective name used to refer to the grounds where the city's old 17th century fortifications
Fortifications of Copenhagen (17th century)
The fortifications of Copenhagen underwent a comprehensive modernization and expansion in the 17th century. The project was commenced and largely masterplanned by Christian IV in the early 17th century but continued and completed by his successors...
used to lie, now surrounding the City Centre
Indre By
Indre By , also known as Copenhagen Center or K or Downtown Copenhagen or City, is one of the 15 administrative, statistical, and tax city districts comprising the municipality of Copenhagen, Denmark...
. Since the fortifications were decommissioned in 1870, the Fortification Ring has been dominated by a number of parks and destinctive greenspace
Open space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
s and it is still maintained and developed as a green belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
within the city limits. running between the city centre and the -bro districts. The ramparts, bastions and moats of the former fortifications are still clearly seen in the topography. At Christianshavn
Christianshavn
Christianshavn is an artificial island neighbourhood located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was founded in the early 17th century by Christian IV as part of his extension of the fortifications of Copenhagen. Originally it was laid out as an independent privileged merchant's town with inspiration from...
and the citadel Kastellet
Kastellet, Copenhagen
Kastellet, located in Copenhagen, Denmark is one of the best preserved fortifications in Northern Europe. It is constructed in the form of a pentagram with bastions at its corners...
, the fortifications have been preserved and remain intact.
History
The decommissioning of Copenhagen's fortifications was a lengthy process. Though the four city gates were finally dismantled in 1858–60 to allow for traffic to pass more freely in and out of the city, work on the ramparts continued and it would take another two decades before a denise fell into place. In 1867 a law abloished the demarcation line around the city and in the same time it provided the legislative foundation for the City of CopenhagenCopenhagen municipality
Copenhagen Municipality is the largest of the municipalities making up the city of Copenhagen. It lies at the center of Copenhagen and contains the old historic city....
, on certain conditions, to take over the extensive areas which the fortifications had occupied till then. When an agreement fell into place in 1868, with effect from 1 January 1870, it stipulated that the City was required to use certain specified areas for green spaces. An area was to be put at the disposal of the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden
University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden
The University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden , usually referred to simply as Copenhagen Botanical Garden, is a botanical garden located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark...
and a minimum of 300,000 square ell
Ell
An ell , is a unit of measurement, approximating the length of a man's arm.Several national forms existed, with different lengths, includingthe Scottish ell ,the Flemish ell ,the French ell...
(12 hectares) were to be laid out as public parks. In addition, a masterplan for the redevelopment of the area had to be approaced by the State.
A masterplan for the area was approaved in 1872 and ground work proceeded, first at the Northern Rampart. A revision of the masterplan in 1885 increased the area to be laid out as parkland to 23.5 hectares.
The decommissioning of the Christianshavn Rampart
Christianshavns Vold
Christianshavns Vold is a former rampart which was part of the bastioned fortification ring which used to surround Copenhagen, Denmark. Running along the full south-eastern perimeter of Christianshavn and Holmen, it used to form a protective barrier towards the island of Amager...
finally followed in 1616.
Parks & greenspaces
Parks and other open or semi-open spaces located in the fortification ring, starting at Kastellet and proceeding anti-clockwise, include::- KastelletKastellet, CopenhagenKastellet, located in Copenhagen, Denmark is one of the best preserved fortifications in Northern Europe. It is constructed in the form of a pentagram with bastions at its corners...
- Churchill Parken
- Østre Anlæg
- Copenhagen Botanical GardenUniversity of Copenhagen Botanical GardenThe University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden , usually referred to simply as Copenhagen Botanical Garden, is a botanical garden located in the centre of Copenhagen, Denmark...
- ØrstedsparkenØrstedsparkenØrstedsparken is a public park in central Copenhagen, Denmark. One in a series of parks which were laid out on the grounds of the old fortification ring after it was decommissioned in the 1870s, the park still retains elements from the old fortifications in its topography—a section of the...
- Tivoli Gardens
- Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek Garden
- Christianshavn RampartChristianshavns VoldChristianshavns Vold is a former rampart which was part of the bastioned fortification ring which used to surround Copenhagen, Denmark. Running along the full south-eastern perimeter of Christianshavn and Holmen, it used to form a protective barrier towards the island of Amager...
- Freetown ChristianiaFreetown ChristianiaNot to be confused with Christiania, Norway, another name for Oslo.Christiania, also known as Freetown Christiania is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood of about 850 residents, covering 34 hectares in the borough of Christianshavn in the Danish capital Copenhagen...
Notable buildings
Notable buildings and institutions include:- Copenhagen Municipal Hospital (1858–63)
- Østervold ObservatoryØstervold ObservatoryØstervold Observatory is a former astronomical observatory in Copenhagen, Denmark owned and operated by the University of Copenhagen . It opened in 1861 as a replacement for the University's old observatory at Rundetårn....
(1859–61) - Copenhagen Central Fire StationCopenhagen Central Fire StationCopenhagen Central Fire Station is the headquarters of Copenhagen Fire Department and located on HC Andersens Boulevard just behind Copenhagen City Hall and opposite Tivoli Gardens...
(1889–92) - National GalleryStatens Museum for KunstStatens Museum for Kunst is the Danish national gallery located in Copenhagen....
(1896) - Copenhagen City HallCopenhagen City HallCopenhagen City Hall is the headquarters of the Municipal Council as well as the Lord mayor of the City of Copenhagen, Denmark. The building is situated on The City Hall Square in central Copenhagen....
(1905) - The Hirschsprung CollectionThe Hirschsprung CollectionThe Hirschsprung Collection is an art museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is located in a parkland setting in Østre Anlæg, near the Danish National Gallery, and houses a large collection of Danish art from the 19th and early 20th century...
(1911) - Ny Carlsberg GlyptotekNy Carlsberg GlyptotekThe Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek is an art museum in Copenhagen, Denmark...