Langebro
Encyclopedia
Langebro is a bascule bridge
across the Inner Harbour of Copenhagen
, Denmark
, connecting Zealand-side H. C. Andersens Boulevard to Amager
-side Amager Boulevard. It is one of only two bridges to carry motor vehicles across the harbour in central Copenhagen, the other being Knippelsbro
.
had a wooden bridge built. At that time the bridge connected to Langebrogade, Christianshavn
and not Amager Boulevard, Amager
. Since then the bridge has been remodelled and rebuilt several times. In 1903 a swing bridge
was built and used for both trams and the Amagerbanen railroad
. At the same event the eastern bridge end was moved from Langebrogade to Amager Boulevard. With growing automobile traffic, the new bridge soon became outdated and a new temporary bridge was constructed in 1930. It was replaced by the current Langebro in 1954.
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
across the Inner Harbour of 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...
, connecting Zealand-side H. C. Andersens Boulevard to Amager
Amager
Amager is a Danish island in the Øresund. The Danish capital, Copenhagen, is partly situated on Amager, which is connected to the much larger island of Zealand by five bridges.-History:...
-side Amager Boulevard. It is one of only two bridges to carry motor vehicles across the harbour in central Copenhagen, the other being Knippelsbro
Knippelsbro
Knippelsbro is a bascule bridge across the Inner Harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, connecting Børsgade on Zealand-side Slotsholmen to Torvegade on Christianshavn...
.
History
There has been a bridge called Langebro at the site since 1886 when Christian VChristian V of Denmark
Christian V , was king of Denmark and Norway from 1670 to 1699, the son of Frederick III of Denmark and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
had a wooden bridge built. At that time the bridge connected to Langebrogade, 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 not Amager Boulevard, Amager
Amager
Amager is a Danish island in the Øresund. The Danish capital, Copenhagen, is partly situated on Amager, which is connected to the much larger island of Zealand by five bridges.-History:...
. Since then the bridge has been remodelled and rebuilt several times. In 1903 a swing bridge
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
was built and used for both trams and the Amagerbanen railroad
Amagerbanen
Amagerbanen was a Danish railroad line located on Amager, inaugurated on July 10, 1907, and closed on June 15, 1957.A mostly underground metro line, completed in 2007, was built along much of the same route as the original railroad.- External links :*...
. At the same event the eastern bridge end was moved from Langebrogade to Amager Boulevard. With growing automobile traffic, the new bridge soon became outdated and a new temporary bridge was constructed in 1930. It was replaced by the current Langebro in 1954.
Cultural references
- Langebro is a playDramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
by Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, named for the bridge in Copenhagen. - Scenes from a panick-stricken Langebro is featured in the Danish-American 1961 giant monster film ReptilicusReptilicusReptilicus, a giant monster film about a fictional prehistoric reptile, is a Danish-American co-production, produced by American International Pictures and Saga Studios, and is upon close examination two distinctly different films helmed by two different directors.The original version, which was...
about a giant prehistoricPrehistoryPrehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
reptileReptileReptiles are members of a class of air-breathing, ectothermic vertebrates which are characterized by laying shelled eggs , and having skin covered in scales and/or scutes. They are tetrapods, either having four limbs or being descended from four-limbed ancestors...
which is regenerated from a tail section and goes on am unstoppable rampage through Copenhagen before it is finally killed by poisonPoisonIn the context of biology, poisons are substances that can cause disturbances to organisms, usually by chemical reaction or other activity on the molecular scale, when a sufficient quantity is absorbed by an organism....
by an ingenious scientists and military officers. - "LangebroLangebro (song)"Langebro" is the first track on Danish rock band Gasolin's 1971 first album, Gasolin. The lyrics were written by Mogens Mogensen and the melody is borrowed from the English folk song "Geordie" with very slight alterations...
" is the name of GasolinGasolin'Gasolin was a Danish rock band from Christianshavn in Copenhagen formed by Kim Larsen, Franz Beckerlee and Wili Jønsson in 1969. Their first drummer was the late Bjørn Uglebjerg. He was replaced by Søren Berlev in 1971...
's 1971 adaption of Joan BaezJoan BaezJoan Chandos Baez is an American folk singer, songwriter, musician and a prominent activist in the fields of human rights, peace and environmental justice....
's version of GeordieGeordie (ballad)-Synopsis:The "Geordie" of the title is taken for a crime, to hang; it may be rebellion, murder, horse-stealing, or poaching deer. His wife goes to appeal for his life, sometimes refusing offers to marry her, once widowed, along the way....
, where the setting is shifted from London to Copenhagen and Langebro takes the place of London BridgeLondon BridgeLondon Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
. - In The Olsen Gang's Last Trick, the last film in the Olsen Gang series, the Olsen GangOlsen GangThe Olsen Gang is a fictional Danish criminal gang in the movies of the same name. The gang's leader is the criminal genius and habitual offender Egon Olsen. The other members of the gang are Benny and Kjeld . The gang members are harmless and never use violence...
manages to steal the famous Bedford Diamonds from the Sheik of Abradan, a villain who travels under diplomatic immunity, off a specially secured car at the middle of Langebro.