Mazes & Labyrinths of Denmark II
Jeff Saward & Jørgen Thordrup
Editors note: The following notes form an additional to the article Mazes & Labyrinth of Denmark, by the same authors, which appeared on pages 38-47 of Caerdroia 1991. Further research and a crop of new examples provides a chance to update the previous catalogue. The popular use of the labyrinth symbol and its derivatives is undergoing an important revival in Denmark at this juncture. The following pages are compiled from material in the Caerdroia archives; text by Jeff Saward based on extensive notes from Jørgen Thordrup, who also supplied many of the illustrations, additional assistance, material and illustrations have been supplied by Tuborg Breweries, Marianne Østergaard, Hans Lyngsgård, Arabesk, Ernst Lassen, Gunnar Iversen & Susanne Tvermoes, to whom, many thanks. Following this article are contributions from the builders of two of the new labyrinths in Denmark. They hopefully provide an insight into this current wave of development.
HEDGE MAZES
Vemmetofte, SE Sjælland.
Mentioned briefly in Caerdroia 1991 (p.43) as possibly still in existence, their were in fact two identical low box-hedge mazes, built in the 1720's for Prince Carls and Princess Sophie of Denmark who lived at Vemmetofte at the time. The designs of the 'mazes' were in fact 3-circuit classical labyrinths alongside floral beds planted to form the initials of the prince and princess. The gardens were re-planted in the 1860's and presumably the mazes where destroyed at this juncture. Some overgrown box hedges remain in the grounds, and are often claimed to be the remains of the former mazes, but this seems unlikely.
  Vemmetofte hedge mazes; from Vemmetoftes Historie som Herregaard, Slot og Kloster, by C.H.Brasch, 1860, shows one of the mazes clearly and enough of the other to surmise that it was identical.
Amalienborg, København, Sjælland.
Also dating to the 1720's, the hedge maze in the gardens of the royal palace of Amalienborg was probably planted in hornbeam.
  Amalienborg hedge maze; a contemporary scale plan of the grounds and the maze, reproduced in Monumenta Architecturae Danicae 1660-1920, edited by Elling & Fisker, 1961, would suggest dimensions in the region of 44x82m. for the maze, quite large. It has long since been destroyed.
Slesvig, N.Germany.
Until 1864 a part of Denmark, but now in northern Germany, the Von der Nattish Palace in Slesvig town was a royal Danish palace near Gottorp Castle, built during 1707-1712.
  Slesvig hedge maze; a plan of 1749 (in Den Danske Vitruvius, vol.2. by Laurids de Thurah) shows a hedge maze in the grounds of the palace. The plan is rather confused - where for instance was the entrance? Presumably the maze was destroyed after the palace itself burnt down in 1867.
Frederiksberg, København, Sjælland.
Situated at Pile Alle 14, Frederiksberg, close to the Frederiksberg Slot in the western part of Copenhagen City, a large hedge maze, 70x45 metres, was planted during 1992, and is now open to the public - although its full glory is planned for 1996, when Copenhagen will host the European City of Culture celebrations. The hedges are of beech (6500 bushes in all!), with a grassed central area containing a low box-hedge feature planted with flowers in the shape of a crown. The distinctive oval shape of the centre of the maze and the crown are taken directly from the label of a famous brand of beer - Grøn Tuborg - for this maze was sponsored by the Tuborg Foundation. Their involvement in this project came about after encouragement from various interested parties following an advert for Tuborg beer, which utilised a hedge maze design and the caption What makes life a little greener? - a Grøn (green) Tuborg! The hedge maze just planted is a slightly simplified version of the design used for the advertisement.
  The Grøn Tuborg label
  The Tuborg Maze, Frederiksberg, Copenhagen
  The Tuborg Maze, the original advertisement

MODERN STONE LABYRINTHS
Sindrup, Thy, Jylland.
An 11-circuit stone labyrinth, 12 metres in diameter, laid in 1991 by Susanne Tvermoes and Gunnar Iversen in the garden of the Lunaria Gallery, Sindrup, Thy, NW Jutland. The labyrinth was inspired by the ancient example at Ulmekärr, Bohuslän, Sweden.
  Sindrup stone labyrinth; by G. Iversen
Sundby, Lolland.
The Middle Ages Centre at Sundby has an 11-circuit stone labyrinth of classical-type, situated close to the shoreline. Built by the children from Sundskolen and inaugurated in May 1992, it has a diameter of 17.5m. and a total path length of 297m.
  Sundby stone labyrinth, by E. Lassen
Hastrupskolen, Køge, Sjælland.
A stone labyrinth, 16.5m. in diameter, and of an unusual 9-circuit variant of the classical-type (created by omitting a pair of the angle brackets below the central cross) was constructed in the grounds of the school by three classes of children during September 1992. 624 large stones were laid to form the walls and surrounding the labyrinth are seven 'totem-poles', each 2.5m. high and brightly painted, in a style very similar to the labyrinth at Islev (see C'91, p.44).
  Hastrupskolen stone labyrinth, by Jørgen Thordrup
Skamlingsbanke, Sjøland, S.Jylland.
The pupils of the Skamlingsbanke Ungdomsskole (youth school) constructed an 18m. diameter stone labyrinth, a copy of the famous Trojaborg at Visby, Gotland, as a "relict from the Viking Age" (although the Visby labyrinth is by no means certainly from this period!) for a project on the Vikings during April 1992. The path to the centre is 350 metres long and the walls are marked with some 1500 granite blocks.
OTHER EXAMPLES
Sølyst, Klampenborg, Sjælland.
The Sølyst country house is the headquarters of Det Kongelige Kjøbenhavnske Skydeselskab og Danske Broderskab (the Royal Copenhagen Shooting Society and Danish Brotherhood), originally founded in 1334. A tradition of the society, dating back to 1750, requires that all newly elected members provide a memorial shield to hang at Sølyst - there are currently over 1900 examples! One of these wooden shields, 61 cm. in diameter, is decorated with a curious labyrinthine device, based on an 11(?)-circuit classical type. Surrounding the labyrinth is a wreath and an inscription reading:
Hvo af Labyrinten ud kan finde, han sikker er at Kransen vinde. H.C.Smidt den 2.August 1797.
(literally: Who out of the labyrinth can find, is sure the wreath to win)
Hans Christian Smidt was a master builder, lieutenant colonel and fire brigade chief (b.1765, d.1826) who was admitted to the order in 1797. His shield survives, although the large holes in it are probably the result of target practice as part of the initiation ceremony. A most unusual labyrinth.
  memorial shield, by Jørgen Thordrup
  detail of memorial shield
Zoologisk Have, København, Sjælland.
In the children's section of the Copenhagen Zoo, is a Rabbit-labyrinth! Constructed in 1985 by Marianne Østergaard of the Zoo's architectural office, the maze is built of plywood panels and has two levels, with stairs and tunnels. The maze is for children, who pretend to be rabbits, with various points along the way marked to indicate food (the correct path) or hunters, eagles & wolves (turn back or escape down a tunnel). It continues to be popular and many of the floor panels have been renewed over the years due to wear.
  Zoologisk Have Rabbit-labyrinth
SOLBO, Resenbro, nr.Svejstrup, Jylland.
In the grounds of the Solbo (Sun-home) home for the handicapped, the architect Hans Lyngsgård has constructed a labyrinth of an unusual and quite original type, designed specifically so that wheelchairs can pass around it. The walls are of varying heights (60 to 150cm.) of wood cut from old telegraph poles (over 1km. of poles!), and at certain points large concrete drainage pipes are employed to create tunnels.
  A Labyrinthine Landscape, by Hans Lyngsgård
Øster Farimagsgade, Østerbro, København, Sjælland.
A playground adjacent to the Øster Farimagsgade school, mentioned briefly in C'91, p.46, has a labyrinthine serpent painted on asphalt and running much of the length of the playground. Designed by a group known as Arabesk, based in Copenhagen, they are working with art in building and garden design and hope to incorporate labyrinths in future projects. Watch this space for further details!
  Øster Farimagsgade labyrinth, by Jørgen Thordrup
  plan of Oster Farimagsgade labyrinth

Jeff Saward & Jørgen Thordrup, March 1993