93.162.109.131: /* S-trains */ Renamed section since it is organized around stations and their connections - doesn't make sense to discuss only S-trains here (and then start elsewhere with a list of e.g. Metro stations).

2025-06-06T12:34:18Z

S-trains: Renamed section since it is organized around stations and their connections - doesn't make sense to discuss only S-trains here (and then start elsewhere with a list of e.g. Metro stations).

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{{Short description|District of Copenhagen}}
{{About|the district of Copenhagen}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Valby
| image_skyline = Valby rooftop panorama.jpg
| image_caption = Single family detached homes south of [[Valby Langgade]]
| settlement_type = [[Districts of Copenhagen|District of Copenhagen]]
| subdivision_name = [[Denmark]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Capital Region of Denmark]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Copenhagen Municipality]]
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Denmark|Region]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Municipalities of Denmark|Municipality]]
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Denmark|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 2500
| coordinates = {{coord|55|39|39|N|12|30|13|E|region:DK_type:city(46000)_source:kolossus-ruwiki|display=title}}
}}
'''Valby''' ({{IPA|da|vælpyˀ||Valby.ogg}}) is one of the 10 official [[Districts of Copenhagen|districts]] of [[Copenhagen Municipality]], Denmark. It is in the southwestern corner of [[Copenhagen Municipality]], and has a mixture of different types of housing. This includes apartment blocks, terraced housing, areas with single-family houses and [[allotment (gardening)|allotment]]s, plus the remaining part of the old Valby village, around which the district has formed, intermingled with past and present industrial sites.

[[Valby Bakke|Valby Hill]] marks the boundary between Valby and the more central and urban neighbouring [[Vesterbro, Copenhagen|Vesterbro]] district. The expression "west of Valby Hill" is in Danish often used as a [[metonym]] for "the provinces" or "outside Copenhagen". Separated from the rest of Copenhagen by [[Vestre Cemetery]], Denmark's largest cemetery, towards [[Vesterbro/Kongens Enghave]] and [[Søndermarken]]-[[Frederiksberg Park|Frederiksberg Gardens]] towards [[Frederiksberg]], the [[Carlsberg (district)|Carlsberg brewery site]], and areas of low density, Valby retains a certain air of 'independence', or isolation, even today. With the progressing redevelopment of the Carlsberg area into a new lively, high-density neighbourhood, this is likely to change. Other former industrial sites are also under redevelopment and Valby is today one of the districts in Copenhagen with the fastest growing population.

==Geography==
[[File:Kopenhagen-valby.PNG|thumb|200px|Location of Valby within [[Copenhagen]]]]
Valby covers an area of 9.23 km<sup>2</sup> and has a population of 46,161, giving a population density of 5,002 per km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kk.dk/FaktaOmKommunen/KoebenhavnITalOgOrd/StatistikOmKoebenhavnOgKoebenhavnere/Kort/KoebenhavnsBydele.aspx|title=Københavns bydele|publisher=Københavns Kommune|access-date=2009-11-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510021139/http://www.kk.dk/FaktaOmKommunen/KoebenhavnITalOgOrd/StatistikOmKoebenhavnOgKoebenhavnere/Kort/KoebenhavnsBydele.aspx|archive-date=2009-05-10}}</ref> The district is bounded by [[Kongens Enghave]] and [[Vesterbro, Copenhagen|Vesterbro]] to the east, [[Frederiksberg]] to the north, [[Vanløse]] to the north-east and [[Hvidovre Municipality]] to the west, while Kalvebod Beach, the shallow-watered area just south of Copenhagen Harbour, separates it from the island of [[Amager]] to the south.

The most distinctive geographical features of the district are [[Valby Hill]] in its north-eastern corner and [[Harrestrup Å]] which marks its western boundary. Valby also borders on [[Damhussøen|Damhus Lake]] in its extreme north-western corner.

==History==

===Origins===
The ''Danshøj'' tumulus, along with many other archeological finds in the area, provides evidence that the Valby area has been inhabited since ancient times.<ref name=lokal>{{cite web|url=http://www.valby-historie.kk.dk/valbys_historie.asp|title=Kortfattet gengivelse af Valby's historie|publisher=Valby Lokalhistoriske Selskab|access-date=2011-06-06}}</ref> Modern Valby has developed around the two villages of Valby and Vigerslev. The first recorded mention of the name Valby is from 1186, as ''Walbu'',<ref name=Selskabet>{{cite web|url=http://www.kobenhavnshistorie.dk/bog/kko/v/kko_vw-1.html|title=Valby|publisher=Selskabet for Københavns Historie|language=da|access-date=2011-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324014951/http://www.kobenhavnshistorie.dk/bog/kko/v/kko_vw-1.html|archive-date=2012-03-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> but the history of both settlements probably goes back considerably longer. Valby means "village/house on the plain". In the early [[Middle Ages]] both villages came under [[Utterslev]],<ref name=Gyldendal>{{cite web|url=http://www.denstoredanske.dk/Danmarks_geografi_og_historie/Danmarks_geografi/K%C3%B8benhavn/Valby|title=Valby|publisher=Gyldendal|language=da|access-date=2010-01-04}}</ref> a Crown estate which included most of the area around ''Havn'', the small market town which later became Copenhagen.

In 1167, [[Valdemar I of Denmark|Valdemar I]] granted both Havn and the Utterslev estate to the [[Diocese of Roskilde (Roman-Catholic)|Bishop's Seat of Roskilde]] but in 1417 the villages came under the Crown once again when King [[Eric of Pomerania|Eric VII]] made Copenhagen a royal possession.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.frederiksberg.dk/ByOgKultur/KendDinBy/FrederiksbergStadsarkiv/PjecenFraLandsbyTilStorby/DeGamleLandsbyer.aspx|title=De gamle landsbyer. Tiden før 1700|publisher=Frederiksberg Kommune|language=da|access-date=2011-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724093402/http://www.frederiksberg.dk/ByOgKultur/KendDinBy/FrederiksbergStadsarkiv/PjecenFraLandsbyTilStorby/DeGamleLandsbyer.aspx|archive-date=2011-07-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===16th and 17th century: hard times===
[[File:Stormen på København (Vertangen).jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Daniel Vertangen]]: The [[Assault on Copenhagen (1659)|Assault on Copenhagen]] seen from Valby Hill ]]
Both during the civil war leading up to the Reformation (1533–1536) and during the [[Assault on Copenhagen (1659)|Assault on Copenhagen]] in the [[Second Northern War]], Valby was faced with almost complete destruction (1658–60), leading to deep poverty for the communities.

In 1682, Valby had 13 farms and 25 houses with no more land than a modest garden. The produce from this intensely cultivated area was, in fierce competition with the [[Amager|Amager farmers]], sold on the market at [[Amagertorv]] in [[Copenhagen]], where King [[Christian IV of Denmark|Christian IV]] had granted the Valby farmers trading privileges.<ref name=Gyldendal/>

At the time, the Valby community did not have its own church but instead, since 1628, belonged to Hvidovre Parish.<ref name=Aalholm>{{cite web|url=http://www.aalholmkirke.dk/Aalholm%20kirkes%20historie.htm|title=Aalholms Kirkes historie|publisher=Aalholm Church|language=da|access-date=2011-06-15}}</ref> In 1675, [[Hvidovre Church]] was extended with a ''Valby nave'', both to bring symmetry into the design and to accommodate a wish among the citizens of Valby not to mingle with the Hvidovre farmers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danskefilm.dk/index2.html|title=Hvidovre Kirke|language=da|publisher=danskfilm.dk|access-date=2011-06-15}}</ref>

===18th century: better times===
[[File:Valby women at Gammeltorv, Copenhagen, c. 1800.jpg|thumb|180px|Valby women at [[Gammeltorv]] c. 1800, engraving by [[Gerhard Ludvig Lahde]]]]
In the 17th century, the road to [[Roskilde]] was taken through Valby and an inn opened. The first holder of the license was Hans Pedersen Bladt, a skillful merchant who was elected mayor of Copenhagen in 1675.

Valby also profited from the proximity of [[Frederiksberg Palace]] which was constructed from 1699 to 1703 atop Valby Hill as a new summer residence for King [[Frederick IV of Denmark|Frederick IV]]. The royal presence in the area brought along more activity in the village. It is said that Queen [[Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel|Marie Sophie]], consort of King [[Frederick VI of Denmark|Frederick VI]], often rode through Valby, handing out candy to the children.<ref name=Selskabet/>

In 1721, the king granted the community new trading privileges and a ''[[Rytterskoler|Rytterskole]]'', a precursor of the Danish public school, was built the following year. Valby became particularly associated with raising poultry which the ''Valby women'' sold beside the [[Caritas Well]] on [[Gammeltorv]] in Copenhagen. The trade took place on Wednesdays and Saturdays, which were market days, until 1857.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://vaeggen.copenhagen.dk/media/1051|title=Valbykoner, Gammel Torv, ca. 1800|language=da|publisher=Museum of Copenhagen|access-date=2011-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506172607/http://vaeggen.copenhagen.dk/media/1051|archive-date=2011-05-06|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Leisure destination and the first station===
In 1776, the [[Roskildevej|road to Roskilde]] was given a new course, a direct continuation of [[Vesterbrogade]] across Valby Hill, with the effect that it bypassed Valby to the detriment of the inn and other businesses.

Instead Valby began to develop into an area where members of the bourgeoisie took up summer residency, a practice which spread from adjoining Frederiksberg. One of the first to arrive in Valby proper was the actor James Price who spent his first summer there in 1795, shortly after his arrival in Denmark. He was followed by other members of the bourgeoisie.

When the first railway out of Copenhagen opened in 1847, a 30 km [[Copenhagen-Roskilde railway line|railway line to Roskilde]], it had an [[intermediate station]] slightly east of where [[Valby railway station]] lies today. The station was originally meant to serve mostly leisure trips to nearby Frederiksberg; it had a booming traffic in the railway's first years, which however dwindled as the novelty wore off. The station was closed in 1864 when the [[Copenhagen Central Station|second main station in Copenhagen]] opened and the railway was rerouted through [[Frederiksberg railway station]] instead.

===Carlsberg arrives===
[[File:Gammel Carlsberg (c.1883-84).jpg|thumb|left|200px|Carlsberg, c. 1883]]
[[File:Valby 1896.jpg|thumb|200px|Map detail showing Valby in 1896]]
During the construction of the new railway, when the tracks were dug through Valby Hill, a natural spring was discovered. This attracted the brew master [[J. C. Jacobsen]] to the site and he founded his [[Carlsberg Group|Carlsberg Brewery]] in 1847 on the eastern slopes of the hill. In 1882, [[Carl Jacobsen]], [[J. C. Jacobsen]]'s son, opened his own brewery at a neighbouring site after a controversy with his father. Over the following decades both breweries grew and were later merged.

Carl Jacobsen also became the driving force behind Valby's first church, the large [[Jesus Church, Valby|Jesus Church]], which he financed with money he inherited from his father. The new church was consecrated on [[1891 in Denmark|15 November 1891]] but it remained under Hvidovre Parish for another decade.<ref name=Aalholm/>

===20th century===
In 1901, the Valby area was transferred to [[Copenhagen Municipality]] and became increasingly urbanized, with both new residential areas and industry. [[Ole Olsen (filmmaker)|Ole Olsen]] established the [[Nordisk Film]] film studios in 1906. The following year the [[De Danske Bomuldsspinderier|Danish Cotton Factories]] opened their [[Spinderiet (Copenhagen)|Valby Spinning Mill]] in central Valby. Other companies established in the area early in the century were [[Carl Aller]]'s [[Aller Media|Aller Press]] and ''C.F. Rich & Sønner'', a manufacturer of [[coffee substitute]]s. [[FLSmidth|F L Smidth & Co]] relocated its activities to a huge site in central Valby in 1956.

==Neighborhoods==
[[File:Smedestræde, Valby 2008.jpg|thumb|300px|Houses on Smedestræde in Old Valby dating from the 1880s when Valby was transformed from a village to a suburb]]
The remains of Old Valby are located in the northern part of the district on [[Valby Langgade]], the old road to Roskilde, which today extends from Carlsberg, as the continuation of Pile Allé, and runs west along the municipal border with Frederiksberg until it finally joins the new Roskildevej at [[Damhussøen|Damhus Lake]].

=== City centre ===
The centre of modern-day Valby is the area around [[Toftegårds Plads]] which was refurbished in 2011. New facilities on the square include [[ball cage]]s, a [[climbing wall]] made out of glass and a mobile stage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kubik.kk.dk/valby-moves/nyheder/25-05-kobenhavns-storste-eksperimenterende-byrum-ser-dagens-lys|title=Københavns største eksperimenterende byrum ser dagens lys|publisher=Københavns Kommune|language=da|access-date=2011-06-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325185015/http://kubik.kk.dk/valby-moves/nyheder/25-05-kobenhavns-storste-eksperimenterende-byrum-ser-dagens-lys|archive-date=2012-03-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> Valby Cultural Centre, [[Valby railway station]] and ''[[Spinderiet (Copenhagen)|Spinderiet]]'' shopping centre are all located next to the square, the latter with direct access to the station platforms. Two major arteries connect to the square. Vigerslev Allé extends west along the railway tracks from [[Enghavevej]], at the border between [[Vesterbro (Copenhagen)|Vesterbro]] and [[Kongens Enghave]], and passes Toftegårds Plads before turning into Allingevej at the intersection with [[Hvidovrevej]] further west. [[Gammel Køge Landevej]] extends south and forms part of the secondary route 151.

=== White Houses ===
[[File:Den Hvide By i Valby 1930.jpg|thumb|The White Houses viewed from Valby Langgade, 1930.]]
[[File:Valby Arbejderes Byggeforenings Huse 1909.jpg|thumb|200px|The White Houses viewed from Valby Langgade, 1909.]]
The White Houses in Valby ({{langx|da|Den Hvide By i Valby}}), also known as Trekanten ([[literal translation|lit.]] "The Triangle"), is one of several developments of [[building society]] houses in the Valby district of [[Copenhagen]], [[Denmark]] and are located on the south side of [[Valby Langgade]] and the streets Søndre Allé, Nordre Allé and Østre Allé. They are similar to another [[White Houses, Frederiksberg|development of white houses in Frederiksberg]].

''Valby Arbejderes Byggeforening'' (English: ''Valby Workers' Building Society'') was founded on 17 May 1898 and quickly acquired an approximately five-hectare, triangular site from a local farmer for [[Danish krone|DKK]] 47,000. The 34-year-old architect [[Christian Mandrup-Poulsen]] was commissioned to design the development and the foundation stone for the first house was set on 26 November 1899.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Historie|url=http://www.denhvideby.dk/historie/historie.php|accessdate=11 May 2016|publisher=Trekantens Vejlaug|language=Danish}}</ref> All of the development's original houses were then built between 1899 and 1903.

Mandrup-Poulsen's plan created three tree-lined avenues—Søndre Allé, Nordre Allé and Østre Allé—which form a large "A" off the south side of Valby Langgade. The development consists of a total of 81 houses of which 77 are double houses and four are single houses. Each house contained originally two apartments, one for the owner and one for a tenant. Mandrup-Poulsen created seven different house types but all were white with red tile roofs and green window frames and fences. Most have details in red brick.

==Government==
The [[Danish Maritime Authority]] and the [[Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board]] have their head offices in Valby.<ref>"[https://archive.today/20130701050747/http://www.dma.dk/Contact Contact]." [[Danish Maritime Authority]]. Retrieved on April 30, 2013. "Danish Maritime Authority Carl Jacobsens Vej 31 DK-2500 Valby"</ref><ref>"[http://www.dmaib.com/Sider/Home.aspx Home]." [[Danish Maritime Accident Investigation Board]]. Retrieved on 30 April 2013. "Carl Jacobsens Vej 29 DK-2500 Valby"</ref>

== Amenities ==
[[File:Spinderiet glass roof.jpg|thumb|300px|The [[Spinderiet (Copenhagen)|Spinning Mill]], now a mixed use development]]Located off Gammel Køge Landevej, [[Valby Idrætspark|Valby Sports Park]] contains a [[multi-purpose stadium]] which is mainly used for football. A new aquatics centre is currently under construction and will open on February 2+12.{{Clarify|date=December 2015}}{{Update inline|date=June 2020}}

The major green spaces in the district are [[Valby Park]], the largest park in Copenhagen, and [[Vigerslev Park]] which runs along [[Harrestrup Å]] and the western boundary of the district, from [[Gammel Køge Landevej]] in the south to [[Roskildevej]] at the Damhus Lake with the [[Damhus Meadow]] in the north. The Carlsberg area also contains two historic gardens one of which is now open to the public.

=== Future development ===
Some major plans for the Valby district include:
* [[Carlsberg (district)|Carlsberg]]: A masterplan for the redevelopment of the Carlsberg area has been made by the architectural firm [[Entasis (company)|Entasis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=12836|title=A city for the people|publisher=World Architecture News|access-date=2011-06-16}}</ref>
* ''Grøntorvet'': There are plans to redevelop Grøntorvet, Copenhagen's vegetable wholesale market, following a move of the current market activities to the new and larger [[Copenhagen Markets]] in [[Høje Taastrup]] in 2013. After that there are plans to redevelop the 30 ha area into a new dense neighbourhood. Juul & Frost and [[Dorte Mandrup|Dorte Mandrup Architects]] have made a masterplan for the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ibyen.dk/gadeplan/ECE1223076/groenttorv-bliver-nybyggeromraade/|title=Grønttorv bliver nybyggerområde|language=da|publisher=PolitikenPolitiken|access-date=2011-06-16}}</ref> A pamphlet about the plans can be seen [http://www.netpublikationer.dk/kk/10516/pdf/Bilag_1_Groenttorvsomraadet.pdf here].
* ''[[Harrestrup Å]]'': Copenhagen Municipality, in collaboration with some of the neighbouring municipalities, have launched a project for the [[Restoration ecology|ecological restoration]] of the natural environment of Harrestrup Å and the creation of a sandy beach along Valby's shoreline at Valbyparken. It is expected to cost more than DKK 500,000,000, making it the most expensive such restoration project in Denmark.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.b.dk/koebenhavn/ny-aa-og-strand-til-koebenhavnerne|title=Ny å og strand til københavnerne|language=da|publisher=Berlingske|access-date=2011-06-16}}</ref>
* ''Infrastructure'': A new lightrail line through Valby is currently under consideration. Atkins gas was commissioned to make a preliminary report which was published in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://atkins.dk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=311&Itemid=75|title=Letbane fra Enghave Plads via Carlsberg, Valby til Hvidovre|publisher=Valby Lokaludvalg|access-date=2010-01-04}}</ref> The proposal involves a line from [[Enghave Plads]] through the Carlsberg and along Valby Langgade to [[Hvidovre Hospital]]. More information about the project can be found [http://valbytandlaegen.dk/ny-letbane-gor-transporten-bedre-i-valby/ here] (in Danish).

==Sports==
[[Boldklubben Frem]] (also known as Frem, BK Frem or BK Frem Copenhagen) is a popular football club based in Valby-Sydhavnen. Frem plays its home games at [[Valby Idrætspark]]. Since its foundation in 1886, Frem has won the Danish Championships six times and the Danish Cup twice. Frem fans are especially known for unconditional love and support.

==Transport==

===Rail transport===
[[File:Valby-Station.jpg|thumb|220px|left|Valby station]]
Valby is well served by [[S-train]]s. [[Valby station]] is centrally located next to [[Toftegårds Plads]]. It is located where the [[Vestbanen (S-tog)|Tåstrup]] and [[Frederikssundbanen|Frederikssund]] radials diverge, and is served by trains on either radial. Some regional and intercity trains also stop at Valby, mainly to provide transfers to the Frederikssund S-trains. [[Langgade station]] near Valby's eastern border with [[Kongens Enghave]] is also located on the Frederikssund line.
[[Copenhagen South railway station]] is becoming a major hub which serves as an interchange station between the [[Køgebugtbanen|Køge radial]], the [[ringbanen|ring line]] which connects the station to [[Hellerup station]] north of Copenhagen through the suburbs, and the [[M4 (Copenhagen Metro)|M4 metro line]].
[[Danshøj station]] serves mainly as an interchange station between [[B (S-train)|B trains]] (on the Tåstrup radial) and [[F (S-train)|F trains]] on the ring line. Other stations in Valby serving the ring line are [[Ålholm station]] and [[Vigerslev Allé station]].

==Cultural references==
The 1989 Swedish-Danish drama film ''[[The Miracle in Valby]]'' takes place in Valby. Also, in the ''[[Olsen Gang|Olsen-banden]]'' films, the eponymous gang lives in Valby.

==Notable people==
* [[Morten Rasmussen (footballer, born January 1985)|Morten Duncan Rasmussen]] (born 1985), footballer, was born in Valby
* [[Duke Jordan]] retired here after his extensive solo career

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center" widths=160px heights=130>
File:Carlsberg - Bryggergården.jpg|Old Carlsberg
File:Jesuskirken Copenhagen rear.jpg|The [[Jesus Church, Valby|Jesus Church]], rear side
File:Elephant Gate (Carlsberg) from Valby side.jpg|The [[Elephant Gate and Tower, Carlsberg|Elephant Gate]], the entrance to the [[Carlsberg (district)|Ny Carlsberg complex]] from the Valby side

File:Aalholm Kirke Copenhagen.jpg|Aalholm Church, built in 1938
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Portal|Denmark}}
* [[Lyset]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [http://valbyonline.dk/ Valby Online] {{in lang|da}}

{{Copenhagen city districts}}
{{Copenhagen}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Valby| ]]
[[Category:Copenhagen city districts]]

Valby - Revision history

93.162.109.131: /* S-trains */ Renamed section since it is organized around stations and their connections - doesn't make sense to discuss only S-trains here (and then start elsewhere with a list of e.g. Metro stations).