Owls inhabit old trees here in Söndermarken. This park offers space and beautiful nature between Valby and Frederiksberg. Söndermarken shares history with Frederiksberg Gardens. Only Roskildevej separates them.
Söndermarken means “The Southern Field”. It was founded when Frederiksberg Gardens was landscaped. Locals use Söndermarken for many activities. They jog, walk dogs or stroll. The landscape is hilly and filled with forests. Children enjoy the playground.
Have you seen the cisterns? These underground spaces once supplied clean water to Copenhagen. Later, they became Cisternerne. Cisternerne is now a museum for modern glass art. It features a permanent collection and special exhibitions. Two entrance pavilions and a fountain top the museum. The fountain dates back to 1890.
Let’s walk toward the Memorial Mound. Danish-Americans conceived it in the 1920s. They wanted a memorial in Copenhagen. This would complement Rebild Hills celebrations in Jutland. Funds were raised worldwide by expatriate Danes. In 1925, 40,000 people attended the inauguration. Even the Danish royal family came.
The Memorial Mound is eight meters in diameter and five meters tall. Tall trees surround it. A narrow stone passageway leads to it. Above the entrance, you will see an inscription. It says “They who set out, never to return”. Daylight streams through a meter-wide opening at the top. Inside, a life-size woman embraces her children. This symbolizes Mother Denmark. Nine bas-reliefs depict emigrants’ lives. A five-pointed star on the floor represents the five continents. The memorial mound opens to the public every year on July 4.
Two statues stand at each end of Norske Allé. Near the zoo, there is a statue of Adam Oehlenschläger. He was a central figure of the Danish Golden Age. Julius Schultz designed it. Originally, it stood at Frederiksberg Town Hall Square. In 1897, it was inaugurated. When the new Town Hall was built, the statue moved to Söndermarken. It now faces Frederiksberg Palace. Oehlenschläger grew up there.
At the other end of Norske Allé, near Carlsberg, is a statue of Carl Christian Hall. He was a Danish prime minister. Vilhelm Bissen designed the statue. It was inaugurated on September 15, 1890.
Söndermarken has hosted the Vanguard Festival. It features hip hop and other genres. The atmosphere is family-friendly. The festival has picnic baskets. Vanguard Late Night continues in Vega after the Söndermarken program ends. The first festival was in 2013. It attracted 9,000 people. Wu-Tang Clan, MF Doom, and Sixto Rodriguez performed.