Bakkehuset facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bakkehuset
Bakkehuset viewed from the courtyard
General information
Architectural style	Vernacular
Town or city	Frederiksberg, Copenhagen
Country	Denmark
Completed	1520s

Bakkehuset, which means "The Hill House," is a special old house in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark. It's now a historic house museum. This building is very old, dating back to the 1520s! Over the years, it has been many things. It was a farm, a place where travelers could stay (an inn), a family home, and even a hospital. Bakkehuset is famous because of Knud Lyne Rahbek and his wife, Kamma Rahbek. They owned it during a time called the Danish Golden Age. Kamma Rahbek used the house to host "salons," which were like social gatherings for smart and creative people.

History

Early Days of Bakkehuset

Bakkehuset has a long history, starting around the 1520s. It was built in a good spot on the main road from Copenhagen to Roskilde. Because of its location, it was used as an inn for a long time. An inn was a place where people traveling could stop to eat, drink, and sleep.

In 1649, the owner, Claus Wendorff, passed away. His wife tried to keep the inn open, but she wasn't able to get the license. Later, in 1755, another person named Claus Wendorff, who was a captain, got a new license for the inn.

A year later, in 1756, a former prime minister named Count Johan Ludvig Holstein bought the property. He wanted to build a new country house there. However, he died in 1763 before his plans could happen. His building master, Johan Christian Conradi, took over. Conradi finished fixing up the property, and it continued to be an inn. In 1777, Conradi had money problems, and the house got a new owner again.

The Rahbek Family

Knud Lyne Rahbek started staying at Bakkehuset often in 1787. He liked it so much that in 1802, he bought the property. He and his wife, Kamma Rahbek, made it their private home.

A Place for Creative Minds

Once the Rahbeks moved in, Bakkehuset quickly became a popular spot. Many writers, thinkers, and artists from Copenhagen would visit. It was a lively place for people who loved books and ideas.

Some of the famous people who visited regularly included:

• Adam Oehlenschläger, who was Kamma's brother-in-law.
• Anders Sandøe Ørsted, who was Adam Oehlenschläger's brother-in-law.
• Hans Christian Andersen, a famous storyteller.
• Jens Baggesen, a writer.
• Poul Martin Møller, a poet.
• Bishop Mynster, a religious leader.
• Bernhard Severin Ingemann, another writer.

Having so many guests was costly for the Rahbeks. They didn't have a lot of money. To help pay for things, they rented out rooms in their house. Kamma was very good at managing their money and making the most of what they had.

Later, other important people used the house as a summer home. These included Johan Ludvig Heiberg, Johanne Luise Heiberg, and N. F. S. Grundtvig.

Kamma's Beautiful Garden

The Bakkehuset property was quite large, with about 3.5 hectares of land. Kamma loved gardening and worked hard on it. She created a beautiful garden with a small pond, green lawns, and many different flowers and rare plants. Her garden was one of the first private gardens in Denmark to be designed in the "English style." This style looks more natural and less formal than older garden designs.

Later Years

Originally, Bakkehuset had three parts, or wings. One of these wings became very old and broken down, so it was taken apart. For a while, the building was used as a hospital for people with mental health issues. That hospital later moved to a different location.

In 1925, Bakkehuset opened its doors as a museum.

Bakkehuset Today

Today, Bakkehuset is a museum where you can learn about its history. The museum has special rooms set up to remember the famous people who lived there or visited often. You can see how they lived and what their lives were like.

The building is located right next to the Carlsberg area. This used to be a big factory site for the Carlsberg Breweries. Now, it's being turned into a new neighborhood in Copenhagen with homes and shops. A small park will be created right next to the museum, making it a nice place to visit.

Bakkehuset panorama

See also

• Store Godthåb