Gefion Fountain

At Copenhagen’s harborfront, beside Kastellet and near St. Alban’s Church, the Gefion Fountain depicts the Norse goddess Gefion driving four oxen as they plow the earth. The sculpture brings a creation legend to life: Gefion is said to have plowed the island of Zealand out of Sweden. Take in the bronze figures and the fountain’s stepped basins from different angles, then continue through Langelinie Park toward the Little Mermaid. The fountain is a short stop that fits naturally into a walk around the waterfront.

The legend behind the fountain

The fountain shows Gefion driving four oxen as they pull a plow through the earth. In the Norse legend, the Swedish king Gylfe promised Gefion as much land as she could plow in a day and a night. She turned her four sons into oxen, and their plowing raised a piece of land that she pulled into the sea. That land became Zealand, the island where Copenhagen stands.

One version of the story links Zealand’s outline to Lake Vänern in Sweden, said to resemble the island. The sculpture turns the tale into a large, forceful scene: the goddess and oxen appear to surge forward through the water.

The fountain and its setting

Completed in 1908, the fountain was created by Danish sculptor Anders Bundgaard. Its bronze figures stand above three large basins that step up toward a stone plinth. The setting gives the monument room to be seen from different heights and angles.

The fountain is on the harborfront in Langelinie Park, immediately beside Kastellet and near St. Alban’s Church. From here, you can continue through the park toward the Little Mermaid and the Maritime Monument, or explore Kastellet’s grounds and historic buildings.