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Situated within the city of Copenhagen, Christiania is self-governingβit has its own administrators, rules, and currency. It even has its own flag and means of transport!
Covering over 30 hectares, this city within a city is a haven for almost a thousand people who live and work there.
Christianshavn, the district where Christiania is located, used to be a separate city in the 1600s. The military barracks was located there, as well as some ramparts used as a defence against the conquering Swedes.
The four gunpowder storehousesβnow named Aircondition, Autogena, Fakirskolen, and Kosmiske Blomst are now converted into residences. When you look closely, you can still see the vertical holes (now filled up) where soldiers used to shoot enemies.
A group of hippies settled in Christiania in 1971, seeing it as their last bastion for independence. Since then, it has grown to its current number of 850 residents, and it has its own post office, administration building, general merchandise, restaurants, and other shops.
No new residential houses are allowed to be built inside the commune; new residents are accepted only when units become available.
When I was there, I saw a couple asking around if there was a unit available to let, but they, like the others before them, were turned down. Indeed, if you were lucky enough to secure an apartment in Christiania, why would you want to leave?
Itβs called Copenhagenβs βgreen lungβ for a very good reason: itβs green and traffic-free, a refuge for animals tame and wild.
My friend Nis Jensen, a member of the Danish Vietnamese Association which my organization (Stairway Foundation) worked with in training social development workers in Vietnam, was one of the pioneering residents of Christiania.
His apartment unit was part of a beautiful yellow house deep inside the community. Nis told me that he regularly spotted birds of prey in front of this apartment. One time, he was witness to the successful hunting of a pigeon by a hawk. Indeed, where else in Copenhagen would you be able to see that?
According to the Christiania Guide (2011), Christiania uses a consensus democracy where every resident participates in the decision-making process. One group called the Faellesmodet is in charge of all matters concerning Christiania as a whole, including the handling of the collective funds.
Christiania is divided into 14 geographical areas, and each area has an administrative person in charge of financial matters pertinent to that area as well as planning and holding meetings among the residents there.
Once a month, all 14 treasurers meet and discuss the economy and plans of their respective areas. Thereβs also a Contact Group comprising representatives of the 14 areas who serve as a liaison of Christiania and the state, among other tasks.
I wouldnβt have known of Christiania if I hadnβt met Nis. Despite the cold (it was still winter when I came to visit), he took me around, and I really appreciated it. After all, most tourists only get to see a fraction of the place. Nisβaside from acting as my tour guideβgave me a firsthand perspective of what itβs like to live in Christiania.
They have an area, for example, where people can just leave things they donβt use anymore. Anyone can take anything there. They also have a restaurant, the first floor of which was a museum.
Every single inch of the interior of the restaurant building was covered with graffiti, very similar to Kunsthaus Tacheles, the art center in Berlin. The food was very good though, and the ambiance was indeed cozy. Nis, as expected, knew a lot of people there.
Whatβs remarkable about Christiania are its houses and buildings. Most are designed and built by the residents themselves.
There were quite a lot that were beautifully made, while others resembled nothing more than trailers. Iβll have another post later on the houses there. A lot of them are really interesting!
One thing that made Christiania a bit controversial is Pusher Street, its Green Light District, where the buying and selling of dope is allowed. While hard drugs are illegal, residents have been concerned that Pusher Street is already being used by the organized crime world.
Unfortunately, I wasnβt able to take pictures of all the dope being sold on the street. Taking photographs was strictly not allowed there. I was even asked to cover my lens.
The street was quite a surprise actually. There were a lot of muscled bouncers there enforcing the no-photography rule, and it gave a totally different vibe from the rest of the community.
The future of Christiania was once uncertain. The Danish government had wanted to get the land back and convert the commune into high-end apartment blocks (yikes!), a process they called normalisation. Christiania, after all, occupies prime real estate, and there were identified problems with drug dealing inside.
Fortunately for the residents, after decades of battle, the government finally allowed them to buy the land and buildings for US$13 million. Christiania, then, will continue to enjoy being autonomous, and its residents will continue to enjoy the freedom of living there.
There are four unbreakable rules in Christiania: no hard drugs, no rocket badges, no weapons, and no violence. Itβs no wonder then why residents of Christiania are so fiercely protective of their community. It is their haven and refuge, and something that an outsider like me can only wish to have!
Check out this interesting piece on Christiania: Christiania for Sale.
What do you think of Christiania? Would you want to live there?
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36 Comments. Leave new
Feel free to be as camera happy as you would like elsewhere in the Freetown, however. There is a lot of awesome street art and lovely scenery that is incredibly photogenic. Just remember to be respectful of the rules and only take mental photographs of Pusher Street. Christiania was an incredibly weird and wonderful place to spend an afternoon and it really didn t disappoint. I would wholeheartedly recommend exploring this quirky area when you visit Copenhagen.
Hi Aleah, Nice website, first time to see it – I saw a post you wrote on a Facebook group on Copenhagen. I also visited Christiania in Copenhagen and loved it. It seems you found some more raw parts to it than me. I loved the local beer, the souvenir stands and the quirkiness of it. It is breakway republics and state which interests me a lot when I travel. Safe travels. Jonny
Thanks, Jonny. I really loved my stay in Christiania since I was hosted by my friend there. I think you’d def get a different perspective when you’re with someone local.
@ Renuka: It is π
@ Melissa: Would love to see that someday!
Reminds me a little bit of Dreamtime Village in Wisconsin!
Wow… Christiania is so pretty!
@ Gabi: Yeah, it’s lovely. Although there are many other houses there which are interesting too.
The art on the wall looks very cool.I like the beautiful house called “The Pagode” .
@ Travelogged: Yeah, it’s best to go there with a local, otherwise it can get pretty overwhelming.
@ Jess: Yeah, it’s a cool place π
@ Lillie: I agree π
What a cute and pretty area!
I love the art on the walls! It looks like a cool place.
I went there but I didn’t have time for a tour and I didn’t know anyone so I barely skimmed the surface. I really enjoyed looking at your photos because you obviously saw so much more than I did. I did see some cool buildings though. To be honest, I didn’t feel comfortable when I went because I was pushing a stroller and there were a lot of large, unleashed dogs. I’d like to go back with a friendly guide!
@ Marisol: If you liked my photos here, you’d love my post on the houses. Christiania has so many wonderful ones!
@ Mary: It’s too bad you got to Pusher St. I, too, was not at ease when I went there. The rest of Christinia doesn’t have that vibe at all!
I wanted to visit Christiana because Rick Steves made it sound so interesting. We walked through last summer when we were in Copenhagen and was turned off by all the no photography signs and smell of dope in the air. I guess we were near the Green Light District area and not the best place to go on a family-friendly walk. There were a lot of people there when we visited and I felt like I got transported to the 70s. I’m impressed with all the photos you were able to take and these places you got to see. This was the Christiana I wanted to see. Although, my kids did enjoy the funky art.
Hi Aleah, what a great, fascinating post! I have not heard of Christiana. It’s interesting that such utopian community actually exists on this day and age. Would I live there? I think I can. I’m a bit of a hippie at heart and I love to be surrounded by creativity and harmony. The photos certainly looks lovely. I look forward to your post about the houses.
@ Freya: Lots and lots of colorful houses there! I’m saving it for another post π
@ Penny: LOL you got that right. It’s so full of psychedelic images.
Copenhagen in general looks like Utopia to me and this place looks like Utopia on steroids.
Looks like a wonderful place. I love the little colorful houses.
@ Cat: I envy you for being in Spain. I would LOVE to visit Barcelona and see all of Gaudi’s work!
@ Marina: I know what you mean. Being a hippie doesn’t sound all that great now, does it? I still would want to live there though π
This has to be the definition of a funky town! Not sure I would want to live there now, like a mom, but as a student, how fun would it be! And as an artist!
Sounds like a cool place, a bit like GrΓ cia in Barcelona. Thanks for sharing, especially the pictures!
@ Elizabeth: I agree. I loved what I’ve seen in Copenhagen.
@ Salika: It’s a riot of colors there. The walls bordering Christiania as well as the building walls are covered with art.
I have always wanted to go there!! What an incredible place ( Denmark in general but specifically freetown)
Sounds like an interesting place. I like the walls of Christiania.
@ Jessie: Yeah, it’s a wonderful community!
@ Andrea: Thanks. I could write more, but it will be in another post π
Have always been curious about this place. Thanks for such an in-depth post!
What a cool place!
@ Claire: Christiania is unique. If you get a chance to go to Denmark, make sure to visit it. π
Reminds me of the film “Wanderlust,” though I’m sure this commune is far better! You’re so lucky to have been there! =) It seems like a real intentional community. I hope I can visit a community like this one day, if not Christiana itself. =)
@ Gelo: A Starbucks in Christiania? Noooooo! They have a better cafe there, believe me π
@ Photo Cache: Ah, it’s more than interesting! Take the chance to go there when you’re in Europe.
I’ve seen this in Travel Channel and I thought it’s pretty interessting.
What do I think of Christiana? Beyond interesting! Would I want to liver there? Hmmm, may Starbucks ba or did I miss that part of this blog post? *kidding!* Looks viable more than fascinating!I think I can thrive there π