Fredericia the city for everyone

Fredericia the city for everyone
As a fortress city, Fredericia has had a big significance for the Danish history. In Fredericia, you will find one of Europes most well preserved fortifications. Fredericia has not always been a peaceful place to stay, but since 1864, the city has been peaceful and lovely to live in - and it is definitely worth a visit.

The fortress city
The building of the fortification surrounding the city was started in 1650. The fortress was to be used as protection from foreign war powers - including Sweden, who took over and destroyed the city in 1657. The battles by Fredericia on July 5 and 6 1849 makes the basis for one of the most famous stories in the history of  Danish war. The latest battle in Fredericia was in 1864, when the Austrians took over the city without struggle.

The July 6 days in Fredericia
Every year, the July 6 days are celebrated in Fredericia. In the celebrations, you will be brought back to the year 1949 and experience soldiers, music, parades through the streets, cannon salutes, shopping, food carts, and last, but not least, July 6 Jazz and Blues Festival. In these days, the victory in the historical Battle over Fredericia, which took place July 5-6 in 1849, is celebrated. In that battle, Danish soldiers stormed through the gates of the ramparts in the night. The fortress was besieged by troops from Schleswig-Holstein. That day, the Danish soldiers secured one of Denmark's most important and strategic battles in history. Although, it was not without a huge loss for the Danish army - many soldiers lost their lives in the battle. The big loss of soldiers is commemorated every year on July 5 with a torch parade through the city. Flowers are put by Krigergraven - the warriors grave - and by Trinitatis church - and also by the statue Landsoldaten - the land soldier - which is the world's very first monument for the regular, private soldier.

But July 6 is a day of celebration. You celebrate the victory with the grand march parade through the city, where the first part is grieving, while the second part is victorious with music and partying in the streets. Read more about the days and get more information on: www.fredericia.dk

The city for everyone
Fredericia's slogan is today; The city for everyone. It might sound vague today, but actually the slogan is 350 years old. It comes from the time when King Frederik III was seeking inhabitants to his new fortress city - Frederik's Odde. He invited a varied group of Danes to the city. The king introduced a long range of privileges to the inhabitants of the new-born stronghold; tax exemption, free building areas, impunity for criminals, the right to asylum, religious freedom - all to tempt Danish people to move to the city. Religious freedom attracted a range of different people - Jews, Huguenots, Catholics and more. The city was as mentioned at that time called Frederik's Odde, but because King Frederik III got aware that the city's pranksters called it Frederik's Øde - Frederik's desolated - he changed the name to Fredericia, which intensified the relocation to the city.

Today, you can see the slogan The city for everyone translated into 30 different languages - carved into small iron reliefs and in the pedestrian street by Vendersgade - with bricks on the ground.

Fredericia today
Today, Fredericia is everything but war, strongholds or demolition. The city is undergoing an immense development - and it is a very nice place to visit. A big area by the harbour, which previously hosted a huge shipyard, is today transformed into Kanalbyen - the canal town - with view to Little Belt. Kanalbyen is planned to be a new attractive borough with housing and business community. Kanalbyen is being built in coherence to the existing Fredericia city center. Today, a 1,4 km pedestrian street and 120 shops and restaurants are placed in the city center. Fredericia is also home for a lot of big companies, contributing the the city's growth. Many people also know Frederica from a visit to the conference center, MesseC, which is Denmark's third largest of its kind.

Fredericia Theater
Fredericia Theater has since 2011 exclusively staged musicals that have not yet been performed professionally in Denmark. Almost every show is performed as Europe premiere or grand premiere. Besides this, the theater is hosting a wide selection of events - such as stand up, theater and conferences. Fredericia Theater is most well-known for the musical installations of Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Shu-bi-dua - a Danish band, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Seebach - Danish musician and The Prince of Egypt. Tickets to musicals and other events can be bought at: www.fredericiateater.dk