Translated as Gefion Bridge in English, Gefionbroen in Copenhagen was designed by Asger Skovgaard Ostenfeld; and construction of the bridge was completed in 1894. Located at the Gefion Spring northeast of the center of the city, Gefionbroen is currently used by pedestrians and cyclists; and it is considered to be the first reinforced concrete bridge in Denmark.
Gefionbroen in Copenhagen: Sunday Morning Photograph
The ornate iron railing, stone motif, and mosaic embellishments of the bridge all caught my eye when I first saw it in this quiet and peaceful setting, which is surrounded by gardens and is flanked by Saint Alban’s Church to its southwest.
At one point, Gefionbroen was in such poor condition that motor vehicles could no longer use the bridge; and the original mosaic tiles had to be replaced with new ones. By the year 2000, it was moved 37 degrees out of the axis of the Gefion spring water with Amaliegade. The bridge now runs in a more southerly direction.
The aforementioned railings — which are made of cast iron — were restored and replaced.
The pathway under the bridge — which is also used by pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists — apparently used to be a railroad track that was known as the Frihavnsjernbanen, on which trains used to run between Frihavn in Copenhagen and Toldboden.
Final Boarding Call
Gefionbroen should be a part of your itinerary in Copenhagen, as it is located between the center part of the city and The Little Mermaid statue. Benches are located nearby where you can stop and rest while watching people go by. No admission fee is charged to visit Gefionbroen, which is never closed to the public.
Please click here for a complete list of the Sunday Morning Photograph series of articles at The Gate, which include photographs taken of nature and sights of interest in many countries and territories around the world — including but not limited to:
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- China
- Colombia
- Cyprus — including the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
- Czechia or Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- England in Great Britain in the United Kingdom
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kenya
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malaysia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Netherlands
- Oman
- Panama
- Poland
- Romania
- Singapore
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Spain
- Swaziland or Eswatini
- Sweden
- Thailand
- United Arab Emirates
- United States of America
- Uruguay
All photographs ©2008 by Brian Cohen.
