Squatters Took Over This Military Base 50 Years Ago, And Now It’s A One-Of-A-Kind Neighborhood
A long time ago – but still within living memory – a group of homeless people took over a military base. Yet no one came to throw them out, so they stayed. And then, remarkably, the place transformed into an autonomous community with its own laws and became virtually a country inside another. You can even go visit, and it’s amazing.
Colorful Copenhagen
This curious place is found in the Danish capital of Copenhagen, which is a pretty wonderful place just on its own. It’s considered one of the best eating and shopping destinations in the whole of Europe. The city is also well-known for its low crime rate and the scenery is beautiful. Who wouldn’t want to go? Just be warned: one accidental turn and you could find yourself in Copenhagen’s secret bonus country.
Telltale Signs
It’s called Freetown Christiana, and chances are you’ll stumble into it completely by accident! Yet there are signs that you’re off the beaten track. For a start, right at the entrance there’s one warning you to not take photographs. That hasn’t stopped some people, though.
Open-Air Art Gallery
And there’s just so much to take photos of. The walls of Christiania are covered in graffiti – turning the place into a massive open-air art gallery of sorts. As you walk along the streets you’ll find vegan cafes selling locally grown food for inexpensive prices. Yep, the whole place seems like a little slice of paradise.
Repurposed Materials
The buildings of Christiania are also completely unlike anything you’ll have seen in the rest of Copenhagen. That’s because many of them were built from the ground up by the residents. Lots of the homes are brightly painted, and plenty of them are essentially made out of other peoples’ scrap. One is even constructed entirely out of old window frames, according to the website Scandification.
