Christianshavns Vold
Encyclopedia
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
. It consists of earthworks
with 12 bastion
s and in front of it ran a moat
, Stadsgraven
, now forming a broad canal which separates Christianshavn from the rest of Amager. Along with Kastellet
on the other side of the harbour, it is the only intact part of the fortification system.
Today Christianshavns Vold serves as an important greenspace for Christianshavn
's inhabitants. The southern half of the rampart is a municipal park whereas the northern portion is part of Freetown Christiania
, a self-built, semi-autonomous community which has existed since the early 70s. Part of Christiania is located on the far side of Stadsgraven and the two halves are connected by the Dyssebroen
footbridge.
constructed Christianshavn
as a fortified merchant's town at a shallow-watered, marshy area north of Amager
to complete a fortification ring around Copenhagen. The town was laid out with low earthworks facing Amager
. The rampart was constructed with four and a half bastions and a city gate, known as Amagerport, through which all traffic to and from Amager had to pass.
In the 1670s, when Vestervold was extended to reach the sea, Christiansvold was moved and extended to match the new course of Vestervold. Only the two northernmost bastions, today known as Løvens Bastion and Elefantens Bastion, remained on their original location. The new Christianshavns Vold had 5 very large bastions. Around the entire complex was a moat with a protecting counterscarp
. From 1682-92 Christianshavns Vold was again extended this time in northwards, to guard the entrance to the harbour and protect the new base for the Royal Fleet at what was to become known as Nyholm
. The extension included 7 new bastions, named for members of the Royal family. The last extension of Christianshavns Vold was constructed as late as 1878-82, when a rampart was constructed along the eastside of the newly reclaimed Refshaleø.
. Torvegade, the main thoroughfare of Christianshavn, running from Knippels Bridge
to the dam to Amager, passes between Løvens Bastion and Elefantens Bastion at the site where Amagerport used to lie. The grounds serve as a public park, part of the city's Fortification Ring
park band. The windmill on Løvens Bastion, Lille Mølle
which was converted into a private home in 1917, has been concerted into a historic house museum
.
The northern part of the rampart is today part of Freetown Christiania
. The two former gunpowder
magazines at Frederiks and Carls Bastions serve as venues for small concerts and art exhibitions.
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
which was part of the bastioned fortification ring
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...
which used to surround 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...
. Running along the full south-eastern perimeter of Christianshavn and Holmen
Holmen, Copenhagen
Holmen is an area in central Copenhagen, Denmark. In spite of its name, deceptively in singular, Holmen is a congregation of small islands, forming a north-eastern extension of Christianshavn between Zealand and the northern tip of Amager....
, it used to form a protective barrier towards the island of 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:...
. It consists of earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
with 12 bastion
Bastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
s and in front of it ran a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
, Stadsgraven
Stadsgraven
Stadsgraven is the canal which separates Christianshavn from the rest of Amager in Copenhagen, Denmark. It was originally a moat located in front of the Christianshavn Rampart as part of the city's Bastioned Ring Fortifications....
, now forming a broad canal which separates Christianshavn from the rest of Amager. Along with 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...
on the other side of the harbour, it is the only intact part of the fortification system.
Today Christianshavns Vold serves as an important greenspace for 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...
's inhabitants. The southern half of the rampart is a municipal park whereas the northern portion is part of Freetown Christiania
Freetown Christiania
Not 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...
, a self-built, semi-autonomous community which has existed since the early 70s. Part of Christiania is located on the far side of Stadsgraven and the two halves are connected by the Dyssebroen
Dyssebroen
Dyssebroen is a pedestrian and cycle bridge located in the area known as Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark. It connests the Christianshavn Side main portion of the community to its more 'rural' Amager Side backdrop across Stadsgraven, the former moat of the Christianshavn Rampart which...
footbridge.
History
As part of his endeavour to modernize Vopenhagen's fortifications, Christian IVChristian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
constructed 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...
as a fortified merchant's town at a shallow-watered, marshy area north of 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:...
to complete a fortification ring around Copenhagen. The town was laid out with low earthworks facing 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:...
. The rampart was constructed with four and a half bastions and a city gate, known as Amagerport, through which all traffic to and from Amager had to pass.
In the 1670s, when Vestervold was extended to reach the sea, Christiansvold was moved and extended to match the new course of Vestervold. Only the two northernmost bastions, today known as Løvens Bastion and Elefantens Bastion, remained on their original location. The new Christianshavns Vold had 5 very large bastions. Around the entire complex was a moat with a protecting counterscarp
Counterscarp
A scarp and a counterscarp are the inner and outer sides of a ditch used in fortifications. In permanent fortifications the scarp and counterscarp may be encased in stone...
. From 1682-92 Christianshavns Vold was again extended this time in northwards, to guard the entrance to the harbour and protect the new base for the Royal Fleet at what was to become known as Nyholm
Holmen, Copenhagen
Holmen is an area in central Copenhagen, Denmark. In spite of its name, deceptively in singular, Holmen is a congregation of small islands, forming a north-eastern extension of Christianshavn between Zealand and the northern tip of Amager....
. The extension included 7 new bastions, named for members of the Royal family. The last extension of Christianshavns Vold was constructed as late as 1878-82, when a rampart was constructed along the eastside of the newly reclaimed Refshaleø.
Bastions
- Quintus Bastion
- Charlotte Amalies Bastion
- Frederiks Bastion, with gunpowder magazine
- Carls Bastion, with a gunpowder magazine
- Vilhelms Bastion
- Sofie Hedevig Bastion
- Ulriks Bastion
- Løvens Bastion, with the remains of a windmillWindmillA windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
- Elefantens Bastion
- Panterens Bastion
- Enhjørning Bastion
- Kalvebod Bastion
Christianshavns Vold today
Christianshavns Vold generally remains well-preserved as a historic siteHistoric site
A historic site is an official location where pieces of political, military or social history have been preserved. Historic sites are usually protected by law, and many have recognized with the official national historic site status...
. Torvegade, the main thoroughfare of Christianshavn, running from Knippels Bridge
Knippelsbro
Knippelsbro is a bascule bridge across the Inner Harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, connecting Børsgade on Zealand-side Slotsholmen to Torvegade on Christianshavn...
to the dam to Amager, passes between Løvens Bastion and Elefantens Bastion at the site where Amagerport used to lie. The grounds serve as a public park, part of the city's Fortification Ring
Fortification Ring, Copenhagen
The Fortification Ring 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...
park band. The windmill on Løvens Bastion, Lille Mølle
Lille Mølle
Lille Mølle is a historic house museum in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is a former wind mill that was turned into a private home in 1916...
which was converted into a private home in 1917, has been concerted into a historic house museum
Historic house
A historic house can be a stately home, the birthplace of a famous person, or a house with an interesting history or architecture.- Background :...
.
The northern part of the rampart is today part of Freetown Christiania
Freetown Christiania
Not 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...
. The two former gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
magazines at Frederiks and Carls Bastions serve as venues for small concerts and art exhibitions.
See also
- Fortifications of Copenhagen (17th century)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...
- Fortification Ring, CopenhagenFortification Ring, CopenhagenThe Fortification Ring 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...
- Parks and open spaces in CopenhagenParks and open spaces in CopenhagenCopenhagen is a green city well endowed with open spaces. It has an extensive and well-distributed system of Parks that act as venues for a wide array of events and urban life. As a supplement to the regular parks, there are a number of congenial public gardens and some cemeteries doubling as parks...