Himmelbjerget

Despite the fact that Himmelbjerget rises 147 metres above sea level, the geologists claim that Himmelbjerget is a "false" hill. When the Ice Age was over, the enormous glacial streams dug into the ground and formed the subglacial stream trenches whose steep slopes form the »false« hill - as opposed to the "genuine" hill which is evenly rounded on all sides. In the subglacial stream trench formed by the glacial streams you find today the beautiful lake Jul-Sø, originally Hjul-Sø (the name refers to a place of worship), above which Himmelbjerget rises.
That Himmelbjerget became a well-known place is first and foremost due to the Danish poet St. St. Blicher. The story goes that one summer day in 1838 some students, who were on a walking tour, climbed the hill and became so enthusiastic over the scenic beauty of the place that they wrote to St. St. Blicher suggesting that he should hold a popular meeting at Himmelbjerget. Blicher accepted the idea with enthusiasm and gathered thousands of people at his meetings, of which the first one was held on August 1, 1839.

However, in his enthusiasm Blicher forgot to ask permission for holding popular meetings from the owner of Himmelbjerget, farmer P. Nielsen of Himmelbjerggården, and the owner took it amiss to such a degree that he started a veritable war in the papers in the form of letters to the editor. In the summer of 1840 the Danish King Christian VIII visited Jutland, and when he heard about the "feud", he intervened and solved the problem by leasing Himmelbjerget from the owner. Thus anybody was free to go there, and finally in 1871 the Crown obtained a deed on the property and absolute ownership.

The Tower

The Himmelbjerg Tower, 25 metre high, was erected in commemoration of King Frederik VII, who on June 5, 1849 gave the Danish people its free constitution. The Tower, designed by the architect L. P. Fenger, has a frieze bearing the inscription: In commemoration of the King - Frederik VII - a friend of the Danish people - the giver of the Constitution. The erection commenced in 1874 and on June 6, 1875 the tower could be »unveiled«. However, without part of the ornamentation, namely the King's portrait and the commemorative wreaths, made by the Danish sculptor Ring. These ornaments were unveiled on Constitution Day 1891. Since then the tower has remained unchanged.

The Rostrum

In 1925 - the 50th anniversary of the "unveiling" of the Tower - the Tower Committee erected this large, beautiful rostrum. The rostrum is made of larch from the woods in Central Jutland. It was designed by professor Anton Rosen and cut out by the Danish sculptor Hans W. Larsen under the supervision of the sculptor Utzon W. Frank. Portraits of the men of greatest importance to the first Himmelbjerget meetings are carved into the rostrum. Moreover, the names of the most well-known speakers have been carved, and new speakers are constantly added to the list.

The Monuments

The Blicher Monument. - The beautiful natural stone with St. St. Blicher's symbol - the wood lark - resting on the top, was erected on October 11, 1882 on St. St. Blicher's l00th birthday. - The inscription reads: In 1839 St. St. Blicher summoned for the first time a Danish popular meeting here.

The Tcherning Monument was unveiled on 23 September 1883. Colonel Tscheming was an early agitator for a parliamentary constitution and was a member of the constituent assembly. The portrait medallion was modelled by prof. J.A. Jerichau. The inscription reads: Anton Fre- derik Tscheming. A spokesman of the common people - a defender of political equality until his death.

The Budde Monument. - The monument of Leopold Budde, the first principal of the approved school of Himmelbjerggården, was unveiled on August 27, 1905. The inscription reads: L. Budde, a patron of the children, born in Holbæk on April 15, 1836, dead at Himmelbjerggården on August 24, 1902. Erected by friends. The bust is by the Danish sculptor Bøgebjerg.

The Women´s Monument. - This monument was unveiled on September 11, 1921 in commemoration of the introduction of women's suffrage. The monument bears a relief symbolising a Danish woman. The inscription reads: Like present-day woman - like future generations. - The Constitution of 1915 granted suffrage to Danish women. Artist: Ølsgaard, sculptor.

The Vilhelm Beck Monument was unveiled on 29 September 1929. In 186l the Rev. Vilh. Beck organized the Religious Society for the Home Mission in Denmark. A portrait bust is placed in a niche in the granite monument. The inscription reads: Vilhelm Beck 30/l2-l829 - 30/9-1901. By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15.-10.

The Women´s Oak. - On June 6, 1915 the Women's Oak was planted, a beautiful oak fenced by a heavy iron chain suspended between four natural stones. The inscription on the stones reads: June 5, 1915 - Danish Women's Constitution Oak.
The Childrens Oak. - June 6, 1999, on the occasion of the Constitutions 150th anniversary was planted an Oak for the Children.

At the Constitutions 150th anniversary the sculpture, Jørn Rønnau, created an artwork of oak and elm. A "Wordhouse" and a heart, as a symbol of fellowship and love, are placed 100 m from the top of the hill, where people can search in nature to find the house and the heart.
The title of the artwork is "Spirit and Letter" and relates to the spirit of the place, art and love.