Vestvolden () is a

rampart Rampart may refer to: * Rampart (fortification), a defensive wall or bank around a castle, fort or settlement Rampart may also refer to: * "O'er the Ramparts We Watched" is a key line from "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the ...

complex west of

Copenhagen Copenhagen ( or .; da, København ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a proper population of around 815.000 in the last quarter of 2022; and some 1.370,000 in the urban area; and the wider Copenhagen metropolitan ar ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Danish Realm, Kingdom of Denmark ...

. Stretching approximately from

Avedøre Avedøre is a south-western suburb of Copenhagen located in Hvidovre Municipality. Description The city is mostly made up of concrete blocks and row-housing, but some people residing in Avedøre live in detached single-family houses with gardens. ...

in the south to

Utterslev Mose Utterslev Mose (English: Utterslev Boglands) is a large semi-natural area of lakes, reed beds and parkland located on the border between Copenhagen and Gladsaxe municipalities, approximately six kilometers northwest of central Copenhagen, Denmark ...

in the north, it is part of the last generation of land fortifications of the city. Built in the period 1888–1892 by up to 2,000 workers, it was the largest construction project of its time in Denmark. Vestvolden was divided into two fortifications end to end, the southern one named Vestenceinten and the northern, much shorter one named Husumenceinten; the name ''Vestvolden'' emerged as an informal collective term for the two. The building of this fortification system began during the so-called ''"Provisorietiden"'' (the Provisional Time) 1885–1894. Under the Prime Minister who lacked a parliamentary majority but still refused to resign, J.B.S. Estrup. Instead this Prime Minister managed to enforce his annual Financial Laws, by bringing about King

Christian IX Christian IX (8 April 181829 January 1906) was King of Denmark from 1863 until his death in 1906. From 1863 to 1864, he was concurrently Duke of Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg. A younger son of Frederick William, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein ...

's support for ''Provisional Financial Laws''. This included support from the so-called ''Landstinget'' as well. The ''Landstinget'' was a smaller assembly of politicians, of which half of its members were chosen by the Monarch. Its use as fortification ceased in 1920. However, it continued to be used for military purposes, and was not opened to the public until 1963. Today, it is a recreational area, and has been a protected area since 1993.

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Københavns Befæstning / The Fortifications

Oplevelsescenter Vestvolden

Vestvolden/The Western Ramparts
at Københavnergrøn/Copenhagen Green 1892 establishments in Denmark Fortifications_of_Copenhagen Parks in Copenhagen {{Mil-hist-stub