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Cisternerne is not a very presentable word. Usually, when I hear the word "cistern", I imagine a kind of huge container for storing any kind of liquid, from water to benin. So when I found out. that one of the most popular objects among tourists in Copenhagen (Denmark) is the Cisternerne, I was very surprised and I wanted to find out why it is so interesting and what it is all about.
Until some time I had no idea about the existence of such objects, but it turns out there are a lot of them. Here, for example, we found out what is Basilica Cisternerne is an epic building in Istanbul. Let's now look at one more thing - similar in Europe.
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| Cisternerne Copenhagen Denmark |
Below Frederiksberg Hill, in the heart of Copenhagen's Sondermarken Park, Denmark, lies a large underground reservoir that once held up to 16 million liters of water for Copenhagen's residents. But in our time, the Cisternerne performs completely different functions - it houses an unusual picture gallery.
Before the construction of the Cisternerne in the 19th century, Copenhagen had serious water problems. In addition, the water source was heavily polluted, and it became increasingly difficult to supply it to the upper floors of the ever-growing city. The cholera epidemic in 1853 claimed the lives of more than 4,700 inhabitants, after which it was decided to build a new reservoir. Thus, the quality of drinking water in Copenhagen has been significantly improved.
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| Cisternerne Copenhagen Denmark |
Fredericksburg Hill was chosen as the location for the new reservoir because of its height, and excavation began in 1856. The reservoir was completed three years later. It was originally open, but in 1889 it was covered with a concrete roof to minimize the likelihood of contamination and infection.
The Cisternerne ceased to function as a reservoir in 1933, but water was stored in it until 1981. In 1996 Copenhagen received the status of a European City of Culture, and through a joint initiative between the city government and philanthropists, the reservoir became an unusual exhibition space. Since then, the Cisternerne has hosted numerous exhibitions and world-class presentations.
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| Cisternerne Copenhagen Denmark |
The gallery area is 4,320 square meters. Stalactites hang from the ceiling, 4.2 meters high, and on the floor you can see stalagmites, which were formed as a result of the deposition of minerals and salt. Even after the Cisternerne was converted into a museum, these graceful structures still hang serenely from the ceiling.