Christianshavn

district, Copenhagen, Denmark

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 24, 2026

Quick Summary

Christianshavn is a historic district in Copenhagen, Denmark, known for its 17th-century Church of Our Saviour. It was founded by King Christian IV, who also established other towns and buildings during his reign. This area is situated on the harbor and is also recognized as the location of Freetown Christiania, a unique community established in abandoned military buildings in 1971. Christianshavn is a significant tourist attraction and part of the broader Copenhagen metropolitan area.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Copenhagen
The contemporary city
The old quarter of Christianshavn is on the harbor to the south. It contains the 17th-century Church of Our Saviour. This neighborhood is also the site of Freetown Christiania, a countercultural community set up in abandoned military buildings in 1971. It has since become one of Copenhagen’s largest tourist…
Read More
The old quarter of Christianshavn is on the harbor to the south. It contains the 17th-century Church of Our Saviour. This neighborhood is also the site of Freetown Christiania, a countercultural community set up in abandoned military buildings in 1971. It has since become one of Copenhagen’s largest tourist…
Read More