The Gefion Fountain is one of Copenhagen's most beloved monuments. It was designed and sculpted by Anders Bundgard who was a Danish Artist during 1900s. The fountain was constructed in 1908 and was donated to the city of Copenhagen by the Carlsberg Foundation. The Gefion Fountain is located in the beautiful harbor of Copenhagen and is the largest monument in Denmark. It has a similar place in Copenhagen's culture as does the Fontana di Trevi in Rome. Both fountains are used for wishing wells.
The Gefion Fountain's towering presence can be seen from the ends of distant piers which reach far into the ocean and by approaching ships. The intended location of the fountain was in front of Copenhagen's city hall, however it was actually built near Kastellet, or The Citadel, along the coast.
The design of the fountain was inspired by the the creation story of Zealand, the island Copenhagen sits on. The myth states that Swedish King, Gylfe, promised to give Gefion, a Norse goddess, as much as land as she could plow in one day and one night. Excited by the offer, click statuary she turned her four sons into oxen. They plowed all day and all night eventually severing a piece of land which would eventually become Zealand.
The Gefion Fountain depicts the beautiful and strong goddess Gefion plowing the fields with her four sons in oxen form. She swings a large whip and stands on uneven earth. Water sprays out from under the oxen's feet symbolizing the massive amounts of earth they moved in a single day. In 1999 the Gefion Fountain under went its first ever renovations 90 years after it was originally constructed, and it was re-opened in September of 2004.
During renovations, the Gefion Fountain was fitted with large white lights which allow for the fountain to be illuminated at night. The lights breathe new life into the fountain and the mythology surrounding the goddess Gefion. It is a popular spot for an afternoon lunch or an evening adventure for visitors as well as locals. The fountain is reproduced on postcards, products, and services offered by the city of Copenhagen. The fountain remains one of the most visited destinations in Northern Europe and an unmistakable link to the mythological past of Denmark.