Christiania

His History:

Christiania is a self-proclaimed autonomous neighbourhood of Copenhagen founded in 1971 when a group of hippies took over abandoned military barracks and their surrounding along the Christianshavn canals. They developed it an alternative society with own set of rules, independent of the government.

Map of Copenhagen

During the Second World War, Christiania was a military camp used as store army material command and ammunition laboratories and where the Royal Artillery Regiment lived. Less used after 1945, the barracks were abandoned in 1967.

Aerial view of Christiania

And it was in 1971, when the fence of the military camp knocked down by this idealistic young people in order to form a radical new society. Here, they could practice free love, experiment with drugs and alternative way of life, far away from the constraining and conventional society. The Danish government designated the alternative community as a “Social experiment” where new forms of communal living could be explored, under the influence of the times.

Danish hippie

And to show more their autonomy, they create a flag of Christiania. It is a red banner with three yellow discs representing the dots in the "i" in "Christiania". The colors were supposedly chosen because when the original squatters took over the former military base, they reportedly found a large amount of red and yellow paint.

Flag of Christiania

Today:
Nowadays, 850 citizens of Christiania work as artisans (carpenters, blacksmiths), and the famous Christiania Bikes (bicycle trailers) are produced here. The inhabitants drive also meditation center, cafés, restaurants, and a couple of music night clubs. The Solvognen Theatre Group has until 1983 performed happenings, also outside the Town.

Christiania

The commune is today is partially self-governing, and its members pay taxes to the state, but it still applies own rules such as:

• No cars
• No stealing
• No guns
• No bullet-proof vests
• No hard drugs

Christiania common law

The stands on the famed Pusher Street, where marijuana and hash were once sold openly in a series of booths along the main drag. The cameras are still not allowed here and the ban on smoking in public spaces is not respected here. 

Partly as a consequence of the government's normalization plans like the prohibition of hard drugs or the rising property prices, there have been increasing protests and conflicts in and around Christiania.

For example, in 2005, a young resident of Christiania was killed and three other in a gang assault on the Pusher Street because of a quarrel over the cannabis of Copenhagen. And also against the government since long time ago because of the image that conveyed the neighborhood about drugs.

Despite sporadic disputes with the government and disapproval from some segments of the larger population, Christiania continued to flourish and, over the years, became a tourist destination for those looking for something off the beaten path when exploring Copenhagen.

www.copenhagen.com

www.wikipedia.com
http://beth-macmillan.suite101.com/christiania-denmarks-hippie-paradise-a195036

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