Rick Steves' Europe (2000) s05e10 Episode Script
Copenhagen
1 Hi, Iâm Rick Steves, back with more of the best of Europe.
This time, weâre tasting, peddling, and cruising our way⦠through Scandinaviaâs most fun-loving capital, Copenhagen.
Visiting Copenhagen, Iâm struck by how well⦠this society works, with an orderliness, without rigidity, with itâs sleek sense of design, and a general calmness, itâs balanced.
It seems theyâve got a system that works⦠and the good sense to enjoy it.
Weâll go local, experience some Danish delights, flirt with the mermaid, imagine tooting a 3,000 year-old horn, check out the dazzling crown⦠of Denmarkâs larger-than-life king, relax in the cityâs old sailorâs quarter, get face to face with art in the Glyptotek, kick back in one the original alternative communes, and revel in Europeâs queen of amusement parks.
The classic introduction to any Copenhagen visit⦠is a canal boat ride.
Since the word âCopenhagenâ means âmerchantsâ harbor,â itâs only natural that many of the cityâs⦠most impressive buildings, both new and old, are visible from the water.
Harbor tour boats come and go constantly, giving visitors a relaxing glide down canals⦠and along the harbor front.
Colorful merchantsâ houses and historic bridges⦠recall an affluence stoked by trade.
Slotsholmen Island, the cityâs 12th-century birthplace, is lined with grand 17th-century Renaissance-style buildings, and this part of the tour reminds us of Denmarkâs powerful seafaring past.
While the town preserves its rich heritage, itâs also building for the future.
The harbor front, dotted with new landmarks, is a showcase for Danish architectural design.
The Royal Library, nicknamed the âBlack Diamond,â uses shiny black granite to make its impression.
The striking play houseâ with its copper roof⦠open, inviting, and bringing the arts to the people.
Just across the harbor, Copenhagenâs opera house is even bigger than it looksâ much of it is underground.
And, as if to proudly show off the newest part⦠of Copenhagen, sightseeing boats venture⦠further from the center for a peek⦠at once-rundown industrial zones⦠that have taken on new life.
Former industrial buildings are transformed into⦠high-end offices and condos, creating a playful new skyline.
Glass seems to be⦠the construction material of choice.
And the harborâs cover girl, the most-photographed citizen of Copenhagen, is the Little Mermaid.
In the much-loved Hans Christian Andersen⦠fairy tale, she saves the life of⦠a shipwrecked prince and sets off on a futile quest⦠to win his love.
The vibrant square fronting the imposing city hall⦠is the busy heart of Copenhagen.
Itâs a crossroads where everything seems to converge.
While central today, this was once the edge of town.
This boulevard marks what was the city walls.
For seven centuries, Copenhagen was contained⦠within these walls.
By the mid-1800s, over 100,000 people were packed inside.
All this congestion led to hygiene problems.
After a cholera outbreak killed thousands, it was clear the city walls had to come down, and they did.
Today, only their echoes remain.
Remnants of moats and ramparts now form a delightful green beltâ a string of tranquil lakes⦠and people-friendly parks.
From the city hall, the Strøgetâ a series of lively streets and inviting squaresâ stretches through the old town.
Established in 1962, it was Europeâs first major pedestrian boulevard.
A traffic-free street was⦠an experimental notion at the time.
Though merchants were initially skeptical, itâs a hit now, and the Strøget has inspired⦠city planners throughout the world.
And, as shopkeepers on neighboring streets⦠see the benefits of traffic-free zones, other downtown streets are also being pedestrianized.
Now, streets like this⦠add to Copenhagenâs thriving cafe and restaurant scene.
As you stroll, realize that the commercial success⦠of a historic street like the Strøget⦠drives up the land value.
This results in the replacement of old storefronts⦠with new ones and brings in the chains.
Look above the street-level advertising to discover⦠bits of the 19th-century character that still survive.
Above the crowds, attractive pieces of old Copenhagen⦠hide out.
So weâll better understand what weâre discovering, weâre joined by my Danish friend⦠and fellow tour guide, Christian Donatzky.
So this is an old house here.
This is an old house from the 18th century.
Letâs step inside.
You can get a really, really good feeling⦠for old Copenhagen here.
If you wander off the main streets⦠and walk into the backyards, then you get a completely⦠different impression of how Copenhagen used to look.
This is really how much of Copenhagen⦠looked in the 18th century.
So people lived within the safety⦠of the ramparts in the 1700s.
Well, actually, they had to live inside the ramparts⦠because outside of the ramparts, there was a military area⦠where they werenât allowed to live.
Thatâs why you get this congested feeling.
Thatâs why you get the congested feeling, and after the fire in 1795, they couldnât build⦠half-timbered buildings, so when you see half-timbered buildings, youâll know theyâre old.
So you know when you see this half-timberâ Itâs before 1795, yeah.
Steves: As you explore, youâre bound to pass windows⦠lined with enticing open-face sandwiches.
While these tempting beauties⦠are less expensive than take-away⦠street corner sandwich shops, Christianâs taking me to a restaurant⦠to explain this tasty Danish tradition in style.
Here we go.
That looks delicious.
Big variety, right? Yeah.
There you are.
enjoy.
Tak, thank you.
So this is really what the Danesâ cuisine⦠has to offer, our famous lunch, and we have here three coursesâ herring, meat, cheese, always on rye bread.
Always on rye, and in that order there.
Herring, the roast pork, and then the cheese.
First of all, smorrebrod.
Smorrebrod, yeah, thatâs the name.
Smorrebrod, which means, actually, just âbutter on bread.
â Butter on bread, okay.
This is a little more than butter on bread now.
Itâs evolved, huh? So the herring course, on a piece of rye bread.
Nice, look at that.
So, with the herring, you have to have an akvavit.
Akvavit is perfect for herring.
Itâs the Danish schnapps, basically.
This is the Danish schnapps, thatâs what we call it.
Akvavit.
What does that mean? That means âthe water of life,â and it tastes like that when it goes with the herring.
So, Eick, this is not how we drink schnapps in Denmark.
You have to empty the whole glass.
This is the learnerâs dose here.
But iâll give it a go, Danish-style.
Yes.
Yeah, there you are.
Steves: On Gammeltorv, the old town square, the fountain, which is the oldest in Copenhagen, is named for the figure of charity on top.
Quite a fountain.
The fountain is really an old well from the 16th century⦠supplying water to the Copenhageners.
The statue of charity was from the 17th century, but in the 19th century, middle of the 19th century, the Victorian age, it was too much, so they corked the holes.
They corked it.
so, before the Victorian age, no problem, and then, too risqué.
But today, with our open-mindedness, The water can spring freely once again.
Progressive Danesâlet the fountain flow.
Exactly.
Steves: Every site weâre featuring on this visit⦠is within a 15-minute stroll of here, and Denmarkâs greatest museum is just around the corner.
The National Museum traces the story of this land⦠from its prehistoric beginnings.
Denmarkâs Bronze Age civilization dates back⦠to 1,500 years before Christ.
this elderly womanâwhose coffin carved out of an oak tree was preserved in a peaty bogâ must have believed in an afterlife.
She took her most precious possessions with here.
Still wearing her original wool blouse, she packed a finely-carved horned comb, bronze jewelry, and a dagger.
Like her Mediterranean contemporaries, she would have worshipped the sun.
The Chariot of the Sun illustrates that she believed⦠the sun was dragged across the sky by a divine horse.
This daily journey of the sun dominated Bronze Age religion.
And these horned helmets were worn about⦠500 years laterâ around 1,000 B.
C.
Contrary to popular belief, these helmets were not worn by the Vikings.
It was their Bronze Age predecessors⦠who wore them for ceremonial purposes⦠2,000 years before Erik the Red.
Horned-helmeted priests would have played⦠these Lur Horns.
These distinctive Nordic wind instrumentsâ found in bogs all over Denmarkâ added atmosphere to Bronze Age ritual.
While 3,000 years oldâ as old as The Iliad and The Odyssey,â they still play.
Even back then, the Danes had a flare for design.
The ornamental disc is a sun symbol, perhaps as if these horns played⦠the magical music of the sun.
Getting around Copenhagen is easy, especially if you can ride a bike.
Todayâs city is designed for cyclists.
Many locals find peddling around town⦠is more efficient than driving.
Cyclists get respect, and generous bike lanes give bikes⦠all the legitimacy of cars.
Like many hotels, ours rents bikes to guests.
On my bike, I can get most anywhere in town⦠in 10 to 15 minutes.
Copenhagen has lots of idyllic parks.
Its most royal is the Kingâs Gardens surrounding the Rosenborg Castle.
Weâre here in July, and sun-loving Danes⦠are getting the most out of the long days⦠of their short summer.
Once upon a time, this was the Kingâs Garden.
That king, Christian IV, is the most memorable character⦠in Danish history.
Ruling from 1588 until 1648, he was Denmarkâs Renaissance king.
Rosenborg Castle was the kingâs summer residence.
For anyone entering the audience room, all eyes were on Christian IV.
Check this guy out.
Often depicted as a Roman emperor, he was a big personality.
Christian IV was dynamism in the fleshâ earring, fashionable braid, hard drinker, hard lover, big spender, energetic statesman, warrior king.
During his reign of over 50 years, the size of Copenhagen doubled.
His study was small, cozy, easy to heat.
Like any good king, Christian did a lot of corresponding.
Historians know a lot about his rule⦠because 3,000 of his handwritten letters survive.
He was eight years old when his father died, still too young to rule without a regent.
A portrait shows his mother.
And this one shows the king in his prime.
In another room, a case displays⦠the blood-stained clothing⦠Christian wore when wounded in battle.
Riddled with shrapnel, he lost an eye.
No problem for Denmarkâs warrior king.
He fashioned these earrings made from the shrapnel⦠he yanked out of his eye and forehead⦠and gave them to his mistress.
The king died after half a century⦠on the Danish throne, leaving a colorful legacy.
Christian lived to be 70 years old.
He had two wives, three mistresses, fathered roughly 25 children.
After Christian, three more kings used this palace.
Here in the long hall, tapestries celebrate⦠glorious Danish military victories⦠over Sweden, but not the losses.
And the kingâs throne is surrounded⦠by symbols of royal power.
The treasury is safely stored in the basement.
Christian IVâs coronation crown⦠dates from 1596.
With seven pounds of gold and precious stones, many consider this the finest Renaissance crown in Europe.
Its six gables radiate symbolism.
Thereâs justice, the sword and scales, charity, a woman nursing, promising that the king⦠will love his people as a mother loves her child, and the pelican, which, in legend, pecks its own flesh to feed its young⦠just as the king would make great sacrifices for his people.
The shields of various Danish provinces⦠lining the inside remind the king⦠that heâs surrounded by his realms.
Cases of treasures dazzle visitors.
Todayâs royal jewels were made in 1840⦠of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and pearls⦠from earlier royal jewelry.
Imagine these on the dance floor.
The crown jewels are still worn by the queen⦠on special occasions.
Denmarkâs kings embraced Lutheranism⦠as the state religion during the reformation⦠back in the 16th century.
This memorial celebrates Denmarkâs break⦠from the Roman Catholic Church.
Across the street stands Copenhagenâs⦠very Lutheran cathedral.
Rebuilt in the early 1800s, the facade mimics a Greek temple.
At that time, golden age Copenhagen fancied itself as a Nordic Athens.
John the Baptist stands where⦠youâd expect to see some Greek god.
He welcomes worshippers into a world⦠of neoclassical serenity.
Statues of the 12 apostles line the naveâ carved by the great Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Inspired by the famous Italian sculptor Canova, his art complements the relative austerity and comforting simplicity of Lutheran worship.
The apostles lead to Thorvaldsenâs masterpiece, a statue of the risen Christ.
Thorvaldsen was a master at showing both⦠heavenly and human characteristics.
Wearing his burial shroud, Jesus opens his arms and says, âCome to me.
â From the reverent tranquility⦠of the cathedral, itâs just a few steps⦠to Copenhagenâs happy-go-lucky new harbor, or Nyhavn.
Nyhavn, formerly a sleazy sailorâs quarter, is a now a colorful scene with both locals⦠and tourists lounging contentedly⦠along its canal.
Old sailboats fill the harbor.
Any traditional all-wood ship⦠is welcome to moor here, joining the fleet⦠that makes up Copenhagenâs⦠ever-changing boat show, a scene of modern-day Vikings⦠gone soft.
The scene here is the best free show in town.
Take some time to enjoy it.
beerâs the beverage of choice, with the comfortable crowd looking on from cafes⦠while the younger crowd roughs it on the dock.
So this is a budget tip, really.
If you want to drink a beer in Denmark⦠without going broke⦠then you go to a kiosk, you go to a kiosk, you buy a beer there, it costs⦠a third of the price that it costs at the bars.
A lot of Americans, they see all the young people⦠drinking beer outside, and they think, âbeerâs everywhere,â but really, itâs just, the kids are not in the pubs drinking because⦠itâs too expensive.
Young people are drinking beer on the curb.
Itâs a matter of saving money, really.
Man: And you⦠was the best⦠why not take the rest⦠so why not⦠take all of me? Steves: Copenhagenâs Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, named for Denmarkâs leading brewery, is one of Scandinaviaâs top art galleries.
This is a great example of corporate money, in this case, all that beer money, put to good use.
In about 1900, the family behind⦠the Carlsberg brewery donated its extensive collection of art⦠and a fine building to house it to Copenhagen.
Now, over a century later, the creative vision⦠of that wealthy brewer still brings⦠lots of people lots of joy.
To lure garden-loving Danes, the museum sets sculpture among mediterranean plants⦠in its famous winter garden.
The classical statues and lush trees⦠transport visitors into a scene⦠straight out of some exotic Roman myth.
From this delightful hub, you can explore the museumâs fortesâ ancient Mediterranean art⦠and 19th and 20th-century French and Danish art.
The ancient collection is artfully lit and displayed.
each hall was designed for the art it would showcase, all done with that special Danish knack for design.
A chorus of ancient Roman busts thoughtfully placed at eye level⦠welcomes you into their world.
And, with this small but fine Egyptian collection, the power of the pharaoh reaches all the way to Denmark.
The early 19th century was the Danish golden age, when painters, writers, and Danes in general⦠were celebrating the roots and values⦠of their Danishness.
Here, the leading Danish painter, Kobke, paints a scene at the ramparts of Copenhagen⦠as if we were there, with a romantic, yet realistic, flair.
The museumâs founder was both a friend and a major patron⦠of the French artist Rodin, Europeâs greatest sculptor since Michelangelo.
Here, where sunlight is so plentiful in the summer⦠and so rare in the winter, the light reveals the art in a loving way.
Enjoying Rodinâs famous Kiss, you sense the artist himself⦠would appreciate the play of the light.
Copenhagen is a thriving commercial center, and the economy is greased by a fine public transit system.
Their metro is state-of-the-art, tunneling underwater⦠to connect major neighborhoods.
The Danes vote for high taxes with high expectations, including a transportation system that works.
We emerge in the charming district of Christianshavn, once Copenhagenâs port.
Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, these buildings were warehouses.
This remained Copenhagenâs commercial center until the 1920s, when a modern harbor⦠was built further out.
As the portâs economy collapsed, the place became a slum.
Cheap prices attracted artsy types, it became trendy, and now, those old warehouses are upmarket condos.
The centerpiece of Christianshavn⦠is Our Saviorsâs Church with its beloved steeple, a landmark that can be seen from all over town.
Its unique exterior spiral staircase⦠rewards those who climb it⦠with commanding views of the city.
Just down the street is the famous commune Christiania.
In 1971, several hundred squatters took over an abandoned military barracks⦠and attempted to create their own utopia.
Two generations later, those idealists are still here, defending their right to enjoy life on their terms.
Back then, city officials allowed the squattersâ takeover⦠because no one cared about the land.
Now, this areaâs becoming some of the priciest real estate⦠in town.
Developers have their sights set on this land, and the very existence of the Christiania community⦠is threatened.
Depending on your perspective, this is either a shantytown⦠of scruffy buildings, soft drugs, and dazed people, or a do-your-own-thing haven⦠of creativity, peace, and freedom.
While the main drag, nicknamed Pusher Street⦠for its marijuana stalls, may be a bit off-putting, wander deeper into the community⦠and you find the real soul of Christiania.
This family has been content to live⦠on this idyllic spot for 30 years.
Their daughter was born and raised right here.
Many families share this building, And thereâs always someone to play with⦠just outside the front door.
How long have you lived in Christiania? I lived in Christiania 15 years.
Now, you could live in a fancy condominium, but you choose to live here.
Why do you live here? Because I have an enormous freedom.
Itâs all about freedom.
Yes, it is.
So, we look at here, we have 800 people living here, making some compromises, but still being free.
Yes, exactly.
itâs a complicated challenge.
It is, and we haveâ we have our bad experience⦠and good experience, so but the good thing about it that weâwe learn.
Steves: After four decades, the Christiania community has evolved, but itâs still anchored in its original concept⦠of personal freedom.
And there is something else, I think is very important.
We donât have commercials here.
No commercials.
Have you seen? Itâs no signs or no one, âbuy this, buy that.
â No commâI wondered whyâ itâs illegal in here.
Steves: Even in this informal community, there still are rules.
While marijuana is tolerated, no hard drugs or weapons are allowed.
Itâs so important for a playground⦠also for grownups.
Steves: Copenhagen offers playgrounds for every taste.
Tivoli is Europeâs most famous amusement park.
Yhroughout the summer, Tivoli Gardens⦠offers a festival of entertainment.
20 acres, 100,000 lanterns, and countless calories of fun.
Itâs a joy to get lost in this wonderland of rides, restaurants, and games.
[ bell rings .]
Upon arrival, sort through the schedule of free events.
Thereâs something for everyone all day long.
Tonight, itâs rock-out fridayâ a chance to check out some rising Danish talent.
somebody with you⦠I donât know if youâve got⦠somebody with you Steves: This granddaddy of amusement parks⦠recently celebrated its 150th birthday.
I find it worth the admission⦠just to see Danes young and old at play.
Tivoli, so comfortable with its identity, is happily Danish⦠and wonderfully Copenhagen.
Thanks for joining us.
I hope youâve enjoyed our look at Copenhagen, a city with a knack for enjoying life⦠thatâs distinctly Danish and where harmony⦠is integral to the culture.
Iâm Rick Steves.
Until next time, keep on traveling.
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To order, please call 1-800-440-2651.
Major credit cards are accepted.
For updates on this destination, more European travel information, and a copy of Rickâs free travel newsletter, visit ricksteves.
com.
Do you want a cold Danish beer? Whoa.
[ laughs .]
So, Rick, you drink schnapps like a woman.
Man, those Danes.
Man, they just love their royal family.
[ laughs .]
Man: What about the kid at her leg who isnât getting any? What does that mean? Steves: Thatâs the Swede.
[ laughs .]
This time, weâre tasting, peddling, and cruising our way⦠through Scandinaviaâs most fun-loving capital, Copenhagen.
Visiting Copenhagen, Iâm struck by how well⦠this society works, with an orderliness, without rigidity, with itâs sleek sense of design, and a general calmness, itâs balanced.
It seems theyâve got a system that works⦠and the good sense to enjoy it.
Weâll go local, experience some Danish delights, flirt with the mermaid, imagine tooting a 3,000 year-old horn, check out the dazzling crown⦠of Denmarkâs larger-than-life king, relax in the cityâs old sailorâs quarter, get face to face with art in the Glyptotek, kick back in one the original alternative communes, and revel in Europeâs queen of amusement parks.
The classic introduction to any Copenhagen visit⦠is a canal boat ride.
Since the word âCopenhagenâ means âmerchantsâ harbor,â itâs only natural that many of the cityâs⦠most impressive buildings, both new and old, are visible from the water.
Harbor tour boats come and go constantly, giving visitors a relaxing glide down canals⦠and along the harbor front.
Colorful merchantsâ houses and historic bridges⦠recall an affluence stoked by trade.
Slotsholmen Island, the cityâs 12th-century birthplace, is lined with grand 17th-century Renaissance-style buildings, and this part of the tour reminds us of Denmarkâs powerful seafaring past.
While the town preserves its rich heritage, itâs also building for the future.
The harbor front, dotted with new landmarks, is a showcase for Danish architectural design.
The Royal Library, nicknamed the âBlack Diamond,â uses shiny black granite to make its impression.
The striking play houseâ with its copper roof⦠open, inviting, and bringing the arts to the people.
Just across the harbor, Copenhagenâs opera house is even bigger than it looksâ much of it is underground.
And, as if to proudly show off the newest part⦠of Copenhagen, sightseeing boats venture⦠further from the center for a peek⦠at once-rundown industrial zones⦠that have taken on new life.
Former industrial buildings are transformed into⦠high-end offices and condos, creating a playful new skyline.
Glass seems to be⦠the construction material of choice.
And the harborâs cover girl, the most-photographed citizen of Copenhagen, is the Little Mermaid.
In the much-loved Hans Christian Andersen⦠fairy tale, she saves the life of⦠a shipwrecked prince and sets off on a futile quest⦠to win his love.
The vibrant square fronting the imposing city hall⦠is the busy heart of Copenhagen.
Itâs a crossroads where everything seems to converge.
While central today, this was once the edge of town.
This boulevard marks what was the city walls.
For seven centuries, Copenhagen was contained⦠within these walls.
By the mid-1800s, over 100,000 people were packed inside.
All this congestion led to hygiene problems.
After a cholera outbreak killed thousands, it was clear the city walls had to come down, and they did.
Today, only their echoes remain.
Remnants of moats and ramparts now form a delightful green beltâ a string of tranquil lakes⦠and people-friendly parks.
From the city hall, the Strøgetâ a series of lively streets and inviting squaresâ stretches through the old town.
Established in 1962, it was Europeâs first major pedestrian boulevard.
A traffic-free street was⦠an experimental notion at the time.
Though merchants were initially skeptical, itâs a hit now, and the Strøget has inspired⦠city planners throughout the world.
And, as shopkeepers on neighboring streets⦠see the benefits of traffic-free zones, other downtown streets are also being pedestrianized.
Now, streets like this⦠add to Copenhagenâs thriving cafe and restaurant scene.
As you stroll, realize that the commercial success⦠of a historic street like the Strøget⦠drives up the land value.
This results in the replacement of old storefronts⦠with new ones and brings in the chains.
Look above the street-level advertising to discover⦠bits of the 19th-century character that still survive.
Above the crowds, attractive pieces of old Copenhagen⦠hide out.
So weâll better understand what weâre discovering, weâre joined by my Danish friend⦠and fellow tour guide, Christian Donatzky.
So this is an old house here.
This is an old house from the 18th century.
Letâs step inside.
You can get a really, really good feeling⦠for old Copenhagen here.
If you wander off the main streets⦠and walk into the backyards, then you get a completely⦠different impression of how Copenhagen used to look.
This is really how much of Copenhagen⦠looked in the 18th century.
So people lived within the safety⦠of the ramparts in the 1700s.
Well, actually, they had to live inside the ramparts⦠because outside of the ramparts, there was a military area⦠where they werenât allowed to live.
Thatâs why you get this congested feeling.
Thatâs why you get the congested feeling, and after the fire in 1795, they couldnât build⦠half-timbered buildings, so when you see half-timbered buildings, youâll know theyâre old.
So you know when you see this half-timberâ Itâs before 1795, yeah.
Steves: As you explore, youâre bound to pass windows⦠lined with enticing open-face sandwiches.
While these tempting beauties⦠are less expensive than take-away⦠street corner sandwich shops, Christianâs taking me to a restaurant⦠to explain this tasty Danish tradition in style.
Here we go.
That looks delicious.
Big variety, right? Yeah.
There you are.
enjoy.
Tak, thank you.
So this is really what the Danesâ cuisine⦠has to offer, our famous lunch, and we have here three coursesâ herring, meat, cheese, always on rye bread.
Always on rye, and in that order there.
Herring, the roast pork, and then the cheese.
First of all, smorrebrod.
Smorrebrod, yeah, thatâs the name.
Smorrebrod, which means, actually, just âbutter on bread.
â Butter on bread, okay.
This is a little more than butter on bread now.
Itâs evolved, huh? So the herring course, on a piece of rye bread.
Nice, look at that.
So, with the herring, you have to have an akvavit.
Akvavit is perfect for herring.
Itâs the Danish schnapps, basically.
This is the Danish schnapps, thatâs what we call it.
Akvavit.
What does that mean? That means âthe water of life,â and it tastes like that when it goes with the herring.
So, Eick, this is not how we drink schnapps in Denmark.
You have to empty the whole glass.
This is the learnerâs dose here.
But iâll give it a go, Danish-style.
Yes.
Yeah, there you are.
Steves: On Gammeltorv, the old town square, the fountain, which is the oldest in Copenhagen, is named for the figure of charity on top.
Quite a fountain.
The fountain is really an old well from the 16th century⦠supplying water to the Copenhageners.
The statue of charity was from the 17th century, but in the 19th century, middle of the 19th century, the Victorian age, it was too much, so they corked the holes.
They corked it.
so, before the Victorian age, no problem, and then, too risqué.
But today, with our open-mindedness, The water can spring freely once again.
Progressive Danesâlet the fountain flow.
Exactly.
Steves: Every site weâre featuring on this visit⦠is within a 15-minute stroll of here, and Denmarkâs greatest museum is just around the corner.
The National Museum traces the story of this land⦠from its prehistoric beginnings.
Denmarkâs Bronze Age civilization dates back⦠to 1,500 years before Christ.
this elderly womanâwhose coffin carved out of an oak tree was preserved in a peaty bogâ must have believed in an afterlife.
She took her most precious possessions with here.
Still wearing her original wool blouse, she packed a finely-carved horned comb, bronze jewelry, and a dagger.
Like her Mediterranean contemporaries, she would have worshipped the sun.
The Chariot of the Sun illustrates that she believed⦠the sun was dragged across the sky by a divine horse.
This daily journey of the sun dominated Bronze Age religion.
And these horned helmets were worn about⦠500 years laterâ around 1,000 B.
C.
Contrary to popular belief, these helmets were not worn by the Vikings.
It was their Bronze Age predecessors⦠who wore them for ceremonial purposes⦠2,000 years before Erik the Red.
Horned-helmeted priests would have played⦠these Lur Horns.
These distinctive Nordic wind instrumentsâ found in bogs all over Denmarkâ added atmosphere to Bronze Age ritual.
While 3,000 years oldâ as old as The Iliad and The Odyssey,â they still play.
Even back then, the Danes had a flare for design.
The ornamental disc is a sun symbol, perhaps as if these horns played⦠the magical music of the sun.
Getting around Copenhagen is easy, especially if you can ride a bike.
Todayâs city is designed for cyclists.
Many locals find peddling around town⦠is more efficient than driving.
Cyclists get respect, and generous bike lanes give bikes⦠all the legitimacy of cars.
Like many hotels, ours rents bikes to guests.
On my bike, I can get most anywhere in town⦠in 10 to 15 minutes.
Copenhagen has lots of idyllic parks.
Its most royal is the Kingâs Gardens surrounding the Rosenborg Castle.
Weâre here in July, and sun-loving Danes⦠are getting the most out of the long days⦠of their short summer.
Once upon a time, this was the Kingâs Garden.
That king, Christian IV, is the most memorable character⦠in Danish history.
Ruling from 1588 until 1648, he was Denmarkâs Renaissance king.
Rosenborg Castle was the kingâs summer residence.
For anyone entering the audience room, all eyes were on Christian IV.
Check this guy out.
Often depicted as a Roman emperor, he was a big personality.
Christian IV was dynamism in the fleshâ earring, fashionable braid, hard drinker, hard lover, big spender, energetic statesman, warrior king.
During his reign of over 50 years, the size of Copenhagen doubled.
His study was small, cozy, easy to heat.
Like any good king, Christian did a lot of corresponding.
Historians know a lot about his rule⦠because 3,000 of his handwritten letters survive.
He was eight years old when his father died, still too young to rule without a regent.
A portrait shows his mother.
And this one shows the king in his prime.
In another room, a case displays⦠the blood-stained clothing⦠Christian wore when wounded in battle.
Riddled with shrapnel, he lost an eye.
No problem for Denmarkâs warrior king.
He fashioned these earrings made from the shrapnel⦠he yanked out of his eye and forehead⦠and gave them to his mistress.
The king died after half a century⦠on the Danish throne, leaving a colorful legacy.
Christian lived to be 70 years old.
He had two wives, three mistresses, fathered roughly 25 children.
After Christian, three more kings used this palace.
Here in the long hall, tapestries celebrate⦠glorious Danish military victories⦠over Sweden, but not the losses.
And the kingâs throne is surrounded⦠by symbols of royal power.
The treasury is safely stored in the basement.
Christian IVâs coronation crown⦠dates from 1596.
With seven pounds of gold and precious stones, many consider this the finest Renaissance crown in Europe.
Its six gables radiate symbolism.
Thereâs justice, the sword and scales, charity, a woman nursing, promising that the king⦠will love his people as a mother loves her child, and the pelican, which, in legend, pecks its own flesh to feed its young⦠just as the king would make great sacrifices for his people.
The shields of various Danish provinces⦠lining the inside remind the king⦠that heâs surrounded by his realms.
Cases of treasures dazzle visitors.
Todayâs royal jewels were made in 1840⦠of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and pearls⦠from earlier royal jewelry.
Imagine these on the dance floor.
The crown jewels are still worn by the queen⦠on special occasions.
Denmarkâs kings embraced Lutheranism⦠as the state religion during the reformation⦠back in the 16th century.
This memorial celebrates Denmarkâs break⦠from the Roman Catholic Church.
Across the street stands Copenhagenâs⦠very Lutheran cathedral.
Rebuilt in the early 1800s, the facade mimics a Greek temple.
At that time, golden age Copenhagen fancied itself as a Nordic Athens.
John the Baptist stands where⦠youâd expect to see some Greek god.
He welcomes worshippers into a world⦠of neoclassical serenity.
Statues of the 12 apostles line the naveâ carved by the great Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen.
Inspired by the famous Italian sculptor Canova, his art complements the relative austerity and comforting simplicity of Lutheran worship.
The apostles lead to Thorvaldsenâs masterpiece, a statue of the risen Christ.
Thorvaldsen was a master at showing both⦠heavenly and human characteristics.
Wearing his burial shroud, Jesus opens his arms and says, âCome to me.
â From the reverent tranquility⦠of the cathedral, itâs just a few steps⦠to Copenhagenâs happy-go-lucky new harbor, or Nyhavn.
Nyhavn, formerly a sleazy sailorâs quarter, is a now a colorful scene with both locals⦠and tourists lounging contentedly⦠along its canal.
Old sailboats fill the harbor.
Any traditional all-wood ship⦠is welcome to moor here, joining the fleet⦠that makes up Copenhagenâs⦠ever-changing boat show, a scene of modern-day Vikings⦠gone soft.
The scene here is the best free show in town.
Take some time to enjoy it.
beerâs the beverage of choice, with the comfortable crowd looking on from cafes⦠while the younger crowd roughs it on the dock.
So this is a budget tip, really.
If you want to drink a beer in Denmark⦠without going broke⦠then you go to a kiosk, you go to a kiosk, you buy a beer there, it costs⦠a third of the price that it costs at the bars.
A lot of Americans, they see all the young people⦠drinking beer outside, and they think, âbeerâs everywhere,â but really, itâs just, the kids are not in the pubs drinking because⦠itâs too expensive.
Young people are drinking beer on the curb.
Itâs a matter of saving money, really.
Man: And you⦠was the best⦠why not take the rest⦠so why not⦠take all of me? Steves: Copenhagenâs Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, named for Denmarkâs leading brewery, is one of Scandinaviaâs top art galleries.
This is a great example of corporate money, in this case, all that beer money, put to good use.
In about 1900, the family behind⦠the Carlsberg brewery donated its extensive collection of art⦠and a fine building to house it to Copenhagen.
Now, over a century later, the creative vision⦠of that wealthy brewer still brings⦠lots of people lots of joy.
To lure garden-loving Danes, the museum sets sculpture among mediterranean plants⦠in its famous winter garden.
The classical statues and lush trees⦠transport visitors into a scene⦠straight out of some exotic Roman myth.
From this delightful hub, you can explore the museumâs fortesâ ancient Mediterranean art⦠and 19th and 20th-century French and Danish art.
The ancient collection is artfully lit and displayed.
each hall was designed for the art it would showcase, all done with that special Danish knack for design.
A chorus of ancient Roman busts thoughtfully placed at eye level⦠welcomes you into their world.
And, with this small but fine Egyptian collection, the power of the pharaoh reaches all the way to Denmark.
The early 19th century was the Danish golden age, when painters, writers, and Danes in general⦠were celebrating the roots and values⦠of their Danishness.
Here, the leading Danish painter, Kobke, paints a scene at the ramparts of Copenhagen⦠as if we were there, with a romantic, yet realistic, flair.
The museumâs founder was both a friend and a major patron⦠of the French artist Rodin, Europeâs greatest sculptor since Michelangelo.
Here, where sunlight is so plentiful in the summer⦠and so rare in the winter, the light reveals the art in a loving way.
Enjoying Rodinâs famous Kiss, you sense the artist himself⦠would appreciate the play of the light.
Copenhagen is a thriving commercial center, and the economy is greased by a fine public transit system.
Their metro is state-of-the-art, tunneling underwater⦠to connect major neighborhoods.
The Danes vote for high taxes with high expectations, including a transportation system that works.
We emerge in the charming district of Christianshavn, once Copenhagenâs port.
Back in the 17th and 18th centuries, these buildings were warehouses.
This remained Copenhagenâs commercial center until the 1920s, when a modern harbor⦠was built further out.
As the portâs economy collapsed, the place became a slum.
Cheap prices attracted artsy types, it became trendy, and now, those old warehouses are upmarket condos.
The centerpiece of Christianshavn⦠is Our Saviorsâs Church with its beloved steeple, a landmark that can be seen from all over town.
Its unique exterior spiral staircase⦠rewards those who climb it⦠with commanding views of the city.
Just down the street is the famous commune Christiania.
In 1971, several hundred squatters took over an abandoned military barracks⦠and attempted to create their own utopia.
Two generations later, those idealists are still here, defending their right to enjoy life on their terms.
Back then, city officials allowed the squattersâ takeover⦠because no one cared about the land.
Now, this areaâs becoming some of the priciest real estate⦠in town.
Developers have their sights set on this land, and the very existence of the Christiania community⦠is threatened.
Depending on your perspective, this is either a shantytown⦠of scruffy buildings, soft drugs, and dazed people, or a do-your-own-thing haven⦠of creativity, peace, and freedom.
While the main drag, nicknamed Pusher Street⦠for its marijuana stalls, may be a bit off-putting, wander deeper into the community⦠and you find the real soul of Christiania.
This family has been content to live⦠on this idyllic spot for 30 years.
Their daughter was born and raised right here.
Many families share this building, And thereâs always someone to play with⦠just outside the front door.
How long have you lived in Christiania? I lived in Christiania 15 years.
Now, you could live in a fancy condominium, but you choose to live here.
Why do you live here? Because I have an enormous freedom.
Itâs all about freedom.
Yes, it is.
So, we look at here, we have 800 people living here, making some compromises, but still being free.
Yes, exactly.
itâs a complicated challenge.
It is, and we haveâ we have our bad experience⦠and good experience, so but the good thing about it that weâwe learn.
Steves: After four decades, the Christiania community has evolved, but itâs still anchored in its original concept⦠of personal freedom.
And there is something else, I think is very important.
We donât have commercials here.
No commercials.
Have you seen? Itâs no signs or no one, âbuy this, buy that.
â No commâI wondered whyâ itâs illegal in here.
Steves: Even in this informal community, there still are rules.
While marijuana is tolerated, no hard drugs or weapons are allowed.
Itâs so important for a playground⦠also for grownups.
Steves: Copenhagen offers playgrounds for every taste.
Tivoli is Europeâs most famous amusement park.
Yhroughout the summer, Tivoli Gardens⦠offers a festival of entertainment.
20 acres, 100,000 lanterns, and countless calories of fun.
Itâs a joy to get lost in this wonderland of rides, restaurants, and games.
[ bell rings .]
Upon arrival, sort through the schedule of free events.
Thereâs something for everyone all day long.
Tonight, itâs rock-out fridayâ a chance to check out some rising Danish talent.
somebody with you⦠I donât know if youâve got⦠somebody with you Steves: This granddaddy of amusement parks⦠recently celebrated its 150th birthday.
I find it worth the admission⦠just to see Danes young and old at play.
Tivoli, so comfortable with its identity, is happily Danish⦠and wonderfully Copenhagen.
Thanks for joining us.
I hope youâve enjoyed our look at Copenhagen, a city with a knack for enjoying life⦠thatâs distinctly Danish and where harmony⦠is integral to the culture.
Iâm Rick Steves.
Until next time, keep on traveling.
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Do you want a cold Danish beer? Whoa.
[ laughs .]
So, Rick, you drink schnapps like a woman.
Man, those Danes.
Man, they just love their royal family.
[ laughs .]
Man: What about the kid at her leg who isnât getting any? What does that mean? Steves: Thatâs the Swede.
[ laughs .]