Copenhagen Photo Gallery - Christiania

Christiania is a self-proclaimed enclave that escaped the eyes of the law, running on counter-culture principles. It started in 1971 when a group of homeless occupied the abandoned army barracks, building their own homes amidst hopes of setting up their idealist community with a laid-back attitude. Decisons were made by consensus at community meetings, they ran under its own constitution, ended conventional property ownership, and legalized drugs.

The government eventually tolerated the community and let them govern themselves in a sort of "social experiment", and in 2011, forced the community to get a mortgage and buy up the land.

Today, about 1000 residents live here along the historic ramparts.

However, in recent years, the drug trade has turned increasingly violent with organized criminal groups moving in and the community has tried to clean it up, shutting down the infamous "Pusher Street" where drugs were openly dealt - specifically marijuana, which is still illegal in Denmark.

With a bit of skepticism over whether it is safe to visit, I made my way on a Saturday afternoon and was surprised it was bursting with tourists. I didn't smell any marijuana in the air and it looked like just another tourist attraction with shops, markets, and street art.

Back in the old days, photography was not allowed along Pusher Street. In today's new Christiania, it is welcomed.