Folkemøde Mindesten anno 1839

The Birth of Danish Democracy on a Mountain

On Himmelbjerget's summit in 1839, writer and priest Steen Steensen Blicher orchestrated Denmark's first large-scale democratic gathering. With approximately 500–600 participants, the event brought together farmers, merchants, and officials in an unprecedented assembly designed to kindle patriotic spirit and foster collective political consciousness. Blicher envisioned these gatherings as a means to awaken the nation during a period of economic hardship and political constraint. Denmark had endured the Napoleonic Wars, state bankruptcy, and the loss of Norway in 1814, leaving the population impoverished and politically marginalized under absolute monarchy. The initial success of the 1839 gathering emboldened Blicher to establish an annual tradition. However, the 1840 assembly nearly collapsed when the local landowner, Peder Nielsen, refused permission for crowds to traverse his fields. The dispute was resolved dramatically when King Christian VIII, visiting the region, decided to purchase Himmelbjerget outright for 1,000 rigsdaler. The crown's acquisition transformed the site into public property with a decree guaranteeing free access to all citizens at all times—a revolutionary gesture that legitimized the democratic impulses Blicher had ignited.

A Gathering Place for National Consciousness

Between 1839 and 1844, the Himmelbjerg festivals evolved into Denmark's most significant democratic assemblies, eventually attracting 6,000–7,000 participants. These gatherings carried unmistakable political undertones, providing ordinary Danes with a platform to discuss national governance and assert their stake in the country's future. While the festivals did not directly create Danish democracy, they articulated—for the first time before thousands—the principle that ordinary citizens possessed legitimate claims to political voice and influence. The gatherings represented a crucial precursor to the constitutional reforms that would follow. Just ten years after the first festival, Denmark adopted its first free constitution in 1849, granting citizens freedom of assembly, speech, and religion. The Himmelbjerg festivals had prepared the ideological ground for this transformation, demonstrating that democratic participation could be peaceful, patriotic, and broadly embraced by the population.

Monuments to Memory and Meaning

The memorial stone commemorating the 1839 gathering was unveiled on 11 October 1882, marking Blicher's centenary. Carved from natural stone and crowned with Blicher's symbol—the heath lark—the monument bears the inscription: "1839 stævnede St. St. Blicher her første Gang til dansk Folkemøde" (In 1839, St. St. Blicher convened here for the first time to a Danish people's assembly). The stone stands among numerous other memorials that have accumulated on Himmelbjerget over nearly 150 years, each recording pivotal moments in Danish history and culture. Nearby stands the Tscherning Stone, honoring Anton Frederik Tscherning, an officer and advocate for peasant equality who championed universal military service alongside Blicher. The Kvindeegen (Women's Oak), planted in 1915 following the extension of voting rights to women, commemorates the constitutional amendment of that year. Hans Christian Andersen's Bench, established after the author's 1850 visit, overlooks the Gudenå valley with views extending toward Silkeborg. These layered memorials transform Himmelbjerget into an open-air chronicle of Danish democratic development.

Landscape and Access

The memorial stone sits within a protected area of approximately 16 hectares, designated as a nature preserve in 1919 and 1932. The state owns roughly 170 hectares surrounding Himmelbjerget, while the broader Rye Nørreskov forest remains partly privately owned. Hiking routes connect the memorial site to the shores of Julsø lake, where summer tourist boats from Ry and Silkeborg provide alternative access. The Aarhus–Silkeborg walking route passes through this region, with the Himmelbjerget section considered among its most scenic stretches.