Tivoli Gardens: An Amusement Park from the Eighteenth Century

In mid-August of 2016, I went on my first day trip to Tivoli Gardens, the Danish Disneyland and the world’s second-oldest amusement park. It was pouring at 11 a.m. As an Asian, I thought the weather was great until I saw Danes wandering down the street in knee-length apparel, some even eating a giant waffle coned ice cream. I alighted from a bus near Copenhagen Town Hall on Vesterbrogade and walked up to the Tivoli Gardens. The massive, arched entrance gate painted in colours of ancient gold was the first item that caught my notice as I arrived at the location. Very fairy-tailsh you know!

I got my entry card from the ticket desk near the gate, showed the gatekeeper the receipt, and there I was, marching boldly on the moist, lush grass of Scandinavia’s most-visited amusement park. Later, I realised that the DKK 100 ($15 or INR 1125) entry charge does not cover the cost of rides or other operational elements. You’ll have to pay a premium for that. Nonetheless, I had an entire day to be here, and my excitement was palpable. Who could tell this was an 18th-century amusement park, I thought?

I observed fancy amusement rides, a variety of traditional cultural events, and a lot of stylish observers as far as the eye could see. Parents of gorgeous young children, for the most part. This park, however, is equally entertaining for grownups. Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen astounded me with its magnificent array of cultural and social events. As soon as I stepped inside, I immediately turned right, leading to a mirror wall guarded by life-size giraffe murals. As it turned out, this was the most incredible location for me to recon the park and plan my next move.

Despite receiving a Tivoli Map at the ticket office, I was afraid of wetting the paper, therefore I couldn’t open it because it was still raining. Instead, I chose to immerse myself in the true essence of Danish sprinklings. I went into the onsite “A Hereford Beefstouw” and got the best beer in Denmark, as well as some enormous crispy french fries. A Hereford Beefstouw was my choice because it is my favourite restaurant and because it provided a partial view of the cultural event I was about to attend. (See the image below)

The musical began, and, as with the opening song, the drizzles transformed into light showers, but the audience remained full. I ate my crispy fries while periodically peeking up to see what was going on in the theatre. It resembled modern wildness morphing into and out of a bygone era. It was a joy to watch this Danish musical performance. I hurriedly finished my meal and walked over to the open-air theatre with my beer glass in hand. I sat among the people, exchanged a few shouts, and truly enjoyed a Danish performance while it rained. The dramatisation conferred the unstated subtitles, even if I didn’t understand a single word of the musical.

Also, the performers were rapidly changing outfits amidst stage disappearances, making this a one-of-a-kind spectacle. I believe the entire thing lasted approximately an hour. Fortunately, the rains had temporarily stopped by the end of the performance. As a result, I took a stroll to the next level. This stage was hosting a special event for young children aged 4 to 8. Regardless, I enjoyed my time here. I even danced with the show mascots, and when I was done, all of the parents in the house were beaming. These special moments make my journey a wonderful experience.

Following that, I spent a few hours eating, riding the park’s oldest attractions, taking notes on the Danish and Oriental Broadway shows I saw, and appreciating the gleaming pavement surrounded by classic fountains, beautiful sculptures, and elegant chandeliers. Most Scandinavians appeared to be carrying soft fur rugs to place on restaurant chairs before sitting. This thought occurred to me while I sat in a cafe sipping a steaming cup of Danish coffee.

Along with the coffee, this cafe allowed me to snap long pictures of the famed Moorish Palace, which was painted in angelic white and featured intricate decorations. This Moorish Palace-like structure, located in the heart of Tivoli, is in fact “The Nimb,” a 5-star boutique hotel. They erected this jewel in 1909 as a memorial to the former Chinese Style Bazar that had once been on this location. When the sun sets, a series of rice lights illuminate “The Nimb,” and tourists are occasionally treated to special fireworks nights.

However, when I was in this cafe, I did some research on the history of this historic amusement park. This amusement park, formerly known as “Tivoli & Vauxhall,” was created by Sir Georg Carstensen, who persuaded King Christian VIII to fund a theme park to divert people’s attention away from politics. The King permitted Sir Georg Carstensen to purchase 15 acres of troubled land at Vesterport. He built one of the world’s oldest amusement parks here, complete with futuristic rides and a variety of entertainment options.

I didn’t think about politics or anything else that didn’t belong in Tivoli once while I was here. I left at 4 p.m., but not before spending a few hours indulging in Danish cuisine and beverages, thrilling roller coaster rides, and enticing boutique shops. While you’re here, don’t miss Tivoli’s bell-shaped flowers, which were carefully imported from the Netherlands. If you have more time, you should also visit Tivoli’s Aquarium.

Spread the love

 

 

 

 Tweet