Blegdamsvej Prison (
Danish
Danish may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark
People
* A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark
* Culture of Denmark
* Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish a ...
: Blegdamsvejens Fængsel) is a prison operated by Københavns Fængsler on
Blegdamsvej
Blegdamsvej is a street in Copenhagen, Denmark, connecting Sankt Hans Torv in Nørrebro to Trianglen in Østerbro. The busy artery Fredensgade separates the Nørrebro and Østerbro sections of the street from each other. The north side of the st ...
in the
Nørrebro district 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 = Kingdom of Denmark
, establish ...
. Established in 1848, it is the oldest prison building still in use in Denmark.
History
The prison was built by
Copenhagen County
Københavns Amt () is a former county (Danish, ''amt'') on the island of Zealand (''Sjælland'') in eastern Denmark. It covered the municipalities in the metropolitan Copenhagen area, with the exception of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg. Effective ...
as a replacement for Frederiksholms Arresthus which was located in a former
powder magazine from 1665 at
Langebro
Langebro (literally "Long Bridge") is a bascule bridge across the Inner Harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, connecting Zealandside H. C. Andersens Boulevard to Amagerside Amager Boulevard. It is one of only two bridges to carry motor vehicles across ...
.
Copenhagen County's prison was used for prisoners from the suburbs as well as for employees at the royal court. The prison at Langebro Bridge had been considered outdated for at least half a century when it was finally decided to build a new onne. The site that was selected was located within the so-called demarcation line that enforced a no-built zone outside Copenhagen's fortification ring and it therefore had to be approved by king
Christian VIII.
Michael Gottlieb Bindesbøll was charged with the design of the new building that was inaugurated on 18 December 1949.
Adam Oehlenschläger had written a
cantata for the opening ceremony that was attended by
Frederik VII
Frederick VII (Frederik Carl Christian; 6 October 1808 – 15 November 1863) was King of Denmark from 1848 to 1863. He was the last Danish monarch of the older Royal branch of the House of Oldenburg and the last king of Denmark to rule as a ...
who had succeeded his father earlier that year.
[
The prison was expanded in 1880. It was modernized in 1907–13 to designs by Carl Thonning and again in 1927-28 under supercision of Emil Jørgensen.
]
Today
Blegdamsvej Prison is now managed by Københavns Fængsler and used for male prisoners. The three-storey building has room for 91 inmates.
See also
* Copenhagen Stocks House
* Women's Prison, Christianshavn
The Women's Prison at Christianshavn in Copenhagen, Denmark, was a correctional facility which existed under various names from the mid 17th century until 1921. From 1870 it served as a women's prison. Earlier names included Børnehuset and Tugt- o ...
References
External links
Københavns Fængsler
Prisons in Denmark
Neoclassical architecture in Copenhagen
1848 establishments in Denmark
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