Christiania Village

Christiania is an 81-acre city within Copenhagen (see Stories, News & Photos) founded in 1971 by ‘alternative’ people–hippies and others seeking a freer lifestyle and a place to live. They invaded and took over an unused military compound against much government resistance. It’s been a forty year off-and-on struggle to keep the authorities at bay, sometimes losing, but ultimately winning the right to stay and organize their version of communal living–and decorate in their own uniques style. (See blog about Chrisitania)

Among the residents today are a small population of LGBT (gay) Christianites who have made a gay ‘house’ for their community; it’s called Bossehuset (gay house; see last photo). Gay house is a large interior space in one of the many brick warehouse-style buildings of Christiania. A purpose space for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons for cultural events, theater performances, exhibitions, recreational activities and celebrations–anything from AA meetings to drag beauty contests.

 

Optimisten is a woodworking shop in Christiania that makes furniture,
Christiania postmistress
Inside the post office
Christiania post office entry
Art Gallery entrance
Sign for the Info Cafe in Christiania
Anti-establishment scribble
Advertisement for an art exhibition
Outside the Loppen concert hall in Christiania
Official post office mail bag
Optimisten is a woodworking shop in Christiania that makes furniture,
Optimisten is a woodworking shop in Christiania that makes furniture,
Efforts are made to keep Christiania clean and peaceful. Social
Guided tours of Christiania are offered
Exterior of skateboard park--run by the skaters
Hand-made skateboard park--run by the skaters
Hand-made skateboard park--run by the skaters
No two houses look alike; they are all heated by
Entry to the 'gay house'--Bosenhuset--with rainbow and pink doors
More wall designs
Unpaved streets in Christiania are frozen in winter
An unusual cobblestone street in Christiania with the 'Vor
Metal sculpture (giant bird)
Bird houses for sale
Hand-made-clothing store
Playing with his home-made helicopter--it works.
Shirts for sale at the bakery
Fantasy facade
Informal garden and eclectic house
Painted brick mosaic facade of a private house; properties are
Specialist in bicycle trailers
A well-decorated truck--it runs fine.
Dragons and oceans adorn this workspace
Color and imagination
Symbolic painted designs are common in Christiania
Home Depot'-like home improvement store
Along the lake is a park area--green in summer
Tibetan Buddhist stupa shrine
Painting of an Hispanic revolutionary hero
Free clothing recycle center
Anti-establishment poster
Symbolic designs
No baby carriages in Christiania, Such carriage are a 'plague'
Inside 'Home Depot'-like home improvement store
More graffiti decoration
Multicultural fantasy mural at entry to Christiania
Entering Christiania
Another entrance to Christiania
The fence is frequently redecorated by resident artists
Along the periphery of Christiania is a long fence decorated
One of three entrances to Christiania
Christiania has published a guide to the village describing the
The main avenue of Christiania is called Pusher Street named
The main avenue of Christiania is called Pusher Street named
Outside a sculpture gallery
Lots of places to go in Christiania
Shops in a mini-mall in Christiania
Public bath house in Christiania
Public bath house in Christiania
Inside the public bath house in Christiania
Grocery/general store in Christiania. Unique bicycles are designed in Christiania
Inside grocery/general store in Christiania
Main cafe in Christiania
Inside main cafe in Christiania
Bicycle shop (L) and cafe (R)
The Christiania bicycle shop makes unique and standard bikes for
Christiania bakery (no Alice B Toklas brownies)

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