Copenhagen's Fortification Parks

Today Central Copenhagen is home to several urban green spaces that date back around 150 years. For centuries, Copenhagen was a walled, or fortified, city to provide protection to residents from foreigners. However, as times progressed and an international military conflict became less of a threat the fortifications became more and more irrelevant. Finally, following a plague during the mid 19^th century a population boom occurred in the city resulting in the need to expand to accommodate more families. With this increase in population, it was decided to remove the walls of Copenhagen leaving ample open space behind, which was ideal for park lands.

A map showing the original fortification of Copenhagen. The wall on the bottom of the photo is now where parkland is located.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Copenhagen 

While originally the land once used for the fortifications was divided among three parks, today only two green spaces remain. The first being the botanical gardens and the second being Østre Anlæg park.   

The botanical gardens of Copenhagen have a long history and were not originally located in their current location. Nevertheless, the decommissioning of the fortifications of the city provided a perfect new space for the gardens. The green space is rather structured and somewhat formal in style. A series of glasshouses dominate the are and are impressive in scale and structure. Furthermore, this is a showpiece for Denmark, as it is the home of the nation’s largest collection of living plants. The grounds are well manicured with a comma-shaped lake to one side.

The Palm House dominates the botanical gardens.
Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Palm_House,_Copenhagen_Botanical_Garden.jpg/250px-Palm_House,_Copenhagen_Botanical_Garden.jpg 

In general, Østre Anlæg park has a different feel than the botanical gardens. This green space is a tad more relaxed and elements of Copenhagen’s past shine through. The lakes were once part of the moat system that defended the city and elements of the once extensive fortification system are still visible. The area is people’s park with space for children, concerts, and sports, in contrast to the botanical gardens which are dedicated to the study of plants.

People sunbathing in Østre Anlæg Park. Source: http://i2-images1.tv2net.dk/s/21/20166321-b09a8711b8fc517b1c8b2401bc638335.jpeg

Although today the parks have different purposes and styles they still have a shared history and jointly function as an “outdoor living room” for Copenhagen. In the 21^st century, these green spaces are important social areas for the city’s residents. The open areas provide an escape from the old, cramped streets of the medieval city center of Copenhagen, which has little to no vegetation. Urban living in Denmark’s capital has been greatly enhanced by the conversion of the fortification ring to parkland. Today, other areas of the city are now converting abandoned property, such as rail beds, into green spaces to better their neighborhoods as the fortification parks have done for the city’s center.