The Free City
Christiania occupies an area that for centuries housed Christianhavn's army barracks, before the soldiers moved out and it was colonized by young and homeless people in the spring of 1971. Christiania was declared a "free city" by its residents later that year, with the aim of operating autonomously from Copenhagen proper and pursuing more egalitarian and environmentally friendly lifestyles. Its continued existence on some of Copenhagen's finest real estate has fuelled one of the longest-running debates in Danish (and Scandinavian) society. One byproduct of its idealism and the freedoms assumed by its residents (and, despite recent lapses, generally tolerated by successive governments and the police) was that Christiania became a refuge for petty criminals and shady individuals from all over the city. But the problems have inevitably been overplayed by Christiania's critics, and a surprising number of Danes - of all ages and from all walks of life - do support the place, not least because Christiania has performed altruistically when established bodies have been found wanting. An example has been in the weaning of heroin addicts off their habits (once, a 24-hour cordon was thrown around the area to prevent dealers reaching the addicts inside: reputedly the screams - of deprived junkies, and of suppliers being "dealt with" - could be heard all night). And Christiania residents have stepped in to provide free shelter and food for the homeless at Christmas - the free Christmas dinner they provide is now a popular annual event, even among the not-so-homeless, as up to 2000 people descend on the Gra Hal for a traditional Danish feast. In recent years Christiania has become a more integral part of Copenhagen - the inclusion on the newest official map of Copenhagen of "Pusherstreet" illustrates its gradual acceptance into the mainstream of city life
Your Tip for Christiania
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Christiania - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Christiania - visit the main Christiania forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Christiania webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
