Guide Eng 2.Indd

ETIQUETTE FOR VISITING CHRISTIANIA There are four quite unbreakable rules in Christiania: No to hard drugs, rocker badges, weapons and violence. We don’t imagine that our visitors have problems with keeping those rules. But there are some other rules which are neces- Christiania – the green lung of the city sary to make the visit by a million visitors a year run smoothly: hristiania covers an area of more than 85 acres and recreational values, which we all look for, are found in rich Chouses almost one thousand inhabitants, but every year, measure in the area. Christiania is an more than a million people visit the Freetown. Some of them Christiania is a green, traffic-free city with paths, gravel automobile-free town use Christiania almost every day, others pay a quick visit to roads and large water areas. So when you use the area, Park your car in the street, or the village in the middle of Copenhagen. you must not worry about becoming a little wet and better still: Take the metro to Christiania is thus one of the greatest tourist attractions muddy. Many even find the lack of street-lighting a distinct Christianshavns Torv, or Bus 66 in Copenhagen, and abroad it is a well-known “brand” for advantage – the stars appear so much brighter at night. (in the direction of Refshaleøen) the progressive and liberated Danish lifestyle. Many Danish The inhabited green ramparts make for a variegated and to Prinsessegade. businesses and organizations also use Christiania as a show exciting natural environment. In fact, the green ramparts of Traffic with motorbikes or place for their foreign friends and guests. The purpose is to Christiania appear much more recreational and attractive to mopeds is also banned in the show something Danish that cannot be found anywhere else visitors than the well kept, deserted areas under the care of Freetown. Bicycling is allowed in the world. municipal Copenhagen. in the area at any time with due Among the local users are many social security recipients, Many people, however, abstain from exploring and consideration for pedestrians. pensioners, immigrants and clients from social institutions. using Christiania, simply because they cannot find their way Single mothers also visit here, not to mention the many around. To help those and the thousands of tourists who Garbage sorting homeless and jobless young people. Greenlanders, street visit this unique place in Europe, Christiania has published Throw your refuse in the garbage people and vagabonds, all find a sanctuary here. the tourist guide which you are reading now. barrels, and use the right barrel: They all come to the Freetown to enjoy the peaceful green We welcome you and hope that your eyes will be opened compost, bottles, paper, card- environment and the magic mixture of village and metro- to the creative and cultural values which Christiania offers. board, inflammable waste and politan life, because this is seldom on offer where they live, in There are many things to discover in Christiania, and with garbage. dark flats and dismal institutions around Copenhagen, where this guide, we open the door to them all. As a result, we people are too busy to talk, and where it is not welcome or hope that the political calls to open up the area for the Toilets perhaps even forbidden to enjoy a beer on the bench – if the population of Copenhagen will soon stop. For the whole of Use the public toilets instead of meeting place has not already been done away with. Christiania’s lifetime, the area has been open to the public nature (look at the map or ask). Christiania is the losers’ Paradise, for the creative and and has proved a delight for millions of people. P a g e 2 Respect privacy Do not enter people’s gardens or houses. The story of Christiania There are plenty of free areas where you can sit and enjoy your hristiania’s more than 30-year long history is a long and The affair turns political lunch in peace and quiet. Ctangled tale of struggles, victories and defeats. Many of On several occasions, the police try to remove people, but the people who were in on the start of the experiment are they have to give up, the area is too large, and there are too Photography no longer with us. But the dream of a life in freedom, and many people. Instead, the Freetown becomes a political Try for the least disturbance when the idea of a city ruled by its inhabitants, is still alive. People issue that ends up in Parliament. you shoot, and ask people’s per- from far and near are still attracted by the Freetown’s magic In 1972, Christiania comes to an arrangement with the mission first. mixture of anarchy and love. Ministry of Defence, who owns the area, about payment for The tale starts in 1969/70, when the fence at the corner of electricity and water, and is given a political seal of approval Animals Prinsessegade and Refshalevej in the quarter of Copenhagen as a “social experiment”. A competition calling for ideas Don’t bring any animals home called Christianshavn is knocked down several times by a about the future use of the area is to be arranged, and the with you, even if they walk around group of local people to gain access to the large, former experiment may continue until the result of the competition freely. military area within. Now, the old bridge quarter of town is known. In Indkøbscentralen, you can is going to acquire a playground for the children of the Already the following year, 1973, a new government contact residents who may have neighbourhood, and a green space between apartment is elected, and political sentiment changes. As before, animals to give away. blocks. However, the military and municipal authorities raise Christiania must now be abolished. the fence again and again during those years. The “NATO soldiers” drill in veritable military manner, and Hash Over time, however, the people of Christianshavn get in the evening, the handsome members of the Women’s Remember that the use of hash their playground, while hippies, squatters and others get Voluntary Army Corps entertains with a “NATO Cabaret”. is criminal in Denmark, and pos- their Freetown, when the fence is knocked down for the last A couple of months later, the gender cabaret, “Get Your session is punishable. Hard drugs time in 1971, and people begin to inhabit the former military Money’s Worth”, is performed in Den Grå Hal (Den Grå Hal). (heroin, cocaine, speed etc.) are barracks. Afterwards, the cabaret goes on an outrageous nationwide banned in Christiania, and pos- At the same time, the alternative newspaper “Hoved- tour, shocking a lot of people. session entails expulsion from the bladet” (Head Magazine) is published with the headline: Christiania has now organized itself into smaller area. “Emigrate with bus number 8”. The article tells about the autonomous units. The Common Meeting is the highest abandoned military installations at Bådsmandsstræde Bar- authority for all residents, and while the garbage team racks, and includes lots of ideas for the use of the area – not works with garbage sorting, the smithy is making ovens Respekter husfreden least as dwellings for the great number of young people who out of old oil barrels. In “Loppen” there are regular musical Lad være med at gå ind i haver cannot find anywhere to live. The Squatter Movement and events with everything from Turkish music to amateur rock eller huse, hvor folk bor. the alternative forces from the New Society’s camp at Thy in and traditional jazz. A variety of events which becomes the Der er masser af friarealer, Jutland in 1970 also need a place to realize their dreams in. hall-mark of the place. hvor du kan sidde og nyde din The result is a massive immigration of people who want to Theatre and political actions mark the first years in Chris- madpakke og stilheden. create another life based on communal living and freedom, tiania. In 1974, 12 non-party lists, combined in the electoral and thus Christiania is born. pact “Valgborgs Favn” run in the municipal elections. The P a g e 3 pact wins one seat, which is given to the Women’s List. Tine USA. 40 Red Indians on horseback and several hundred Schmedes brings her baby to the city council meetings, and demonstrators take part in the protest against the American when she breast-feeds her child in public one day, there is an policy towards minorities, the poor and the Third World. outcry in the media. Danish police officers’ violent arrest of the Indians is viewed A mega barricade party is arranged with participation of all over the world. The action finishes in Den Grå Hal, where many well-known artists, politicians, theatre groups, well- Christianites, Red Indians and Greenlanders celebrate. known and unknown bands. In 1975, the National Museum publishes a book about The first documentary in the struggle for the Freetown, the alternative urban environment in the Freetown, and a “Law and Order in Christiania” by filmmaker Nils Vest, is shown series of well-known planners and architects make enthusi- as an introductory in many cinemas around Denmark. astic speeches about the idea of Christiania. The Christmas Army of Solvognen captures the city for five The same year, the Freetown for the first time arranges a days and distributes free gifts in the apartment stores to the Christmas party in the Opera for those who cannot afford to great enjoyment of young and old. Of course, the Santas are celebrate Christmas on their own.

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