38036
The Indre By (inner city) in Copenhagen in Denmark.
This district is the historic, geographic and political heart of present-day Copenhagen, and reflects the history of Denmark. Its boundaries pretty much reflect the entire city’s extent during the reign of King Christian IV (1588-1648). At the time it was a fortified city and its borders were made of defensive walls with moats. To ensure water for the moats there was a series of dams.
Entry and exit to the city was through the town's four gates: Vesterport (Western Gate) near the current Copenhagen City Hall (Rådhus), Nørreport (Northern Gate) near the current Nørreport station, Østerport ("Eastern Gate") by Kastellet, and Amagerport (Southern Gate) between Christianshavn and the island of Amager. The gates were dismantled in 1856. The locations are now commemorated with milestones erected on the spot.
Additionally artificial lakes were constructed as part of Christian IV's large building project. These still exist to this day, and are simply referred to as the "lakes" (Skt. Jørgens Lake, Peblinge Lake, and Sortedams Lake). The area beyond the lakes, now heavily populated city districts, was then used primarily for grazing. It was prohibited to build beyond these original city limits so that the fortification’s cannons could have clear shot and so that the enemy could not find any hiding areas. The line that marked this "no build" zone was called the Demarcation Line (Demarkationslinien) The line was moved further out as the shooting range of canons improved, and was not abolished until after the cholera epidemic of 1853.
A ring of parks called fæstningsringen ("fortification ring") has been erected outside where the walls once stood, and remnants of the bastions, ravelins and moats can be seen in Østre Anlæg park, the Botanical Gardens, Ørsted Park and Tivoli Gardens. The heart of the district is the medieval city, shaped like a square with Rådhuspladsen, Slotsholmen, Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport as its corners. It is dotted with historic buildings, church spires and narrow streets. Many of them has been pedestrianized and is commonly known as Strøget, Copenhagen's main shopping area. But it gets much more interesting if you venture into the narrow streets and squares, since it hides some interesting shops, restaurants and old traditional bars hidden away for the curious traveler. South of the medieval district is Slotsholmen - with the parliament housed in the massive Christiansborg palace, and a few museums around.
Information Sources:
wikitravel.org/en/Copenhagen/Indre_By
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indre_By
38036
The Indre By (inner city) in Copenhagen in Denmark.
This district is the historic, geographic and political heart of present-day Copenhagen, and reflects the history of Denmark. Its boundaries pretty much reflect the entire city’s extent during the reign of King Christian IV (1588-1648). At the time it was a fortified city and its borders were made of defensive walls with moats. To ensure water for the moats there was a series of dams.
Entry and exit to the city was through the town's four gates: Vesterport (Western Gate) near the current Copenhagen City Hall (Rådhus), Nørreport (Northern Gate) near the current Nørreport station, Østerport ("Eastern Gate") by Kastellet, and Amagerport (Southern Gate) between Christianshavn and the island of Amager. The gates were dismantled in 1856. The locations are now commemorated with milestones erected on the spot.
Additionally artificial lakes were constructed as part of Christian IV's large building project. These still exist to this day, and are simply referred to as the "lakes" (Skt. Jørgens Lake, Peblinge Lake, and Sortedams Lake). The area beyond the lakes, now heavily populated city districts, was then used primarily for grazing. It was prohibited to build beyond these original city limits so that the fortification’s cannons could have clear shot and so that the enemy could not find any hiding areas. The line that marked this "no build" zone was called the Demarcation Line (Demarkationslinien) The line was moved further out as the shooting range of canons improved, and was not abolished until after the cholera epidemic of 1853.
A ring of parks called fæstningsringen ("fortification ring") has been erected outside where the walls once stood, and remnants of the bastions, ravelins and moats can be seen in Østre Anlæg park, the Botanical Gardens, Ørsted Park and Tivoli Gardens. The heart of the district is the medieval city, shaped like a square with Rådhuspladsen, Slotsholmen, Kongens Nytorv and Nørreport as its corners. It is dotted with historic buildings, church spires and narrow streets. Many of them has been pedestrianized and is commonly known as Strøget, Copenhagen's main shopping area. But it gets much more interesting if you venture into the narrow streets and squares, since it hides some interesting shops, restaurants and old traditional bars hidden away for the curious traveler. South of the medieval district is Slotsholmen - with the parliament housed in the massive Christiansborg palace, and a few museums around.
Information Sources:
wikitravel.org/en/Copenhagen/Indre_By
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indre_By