Elefantporten (Elephant Gate and Tower), Carlsberg Byen

Colossal Elephants at the Brewery Gate

Elefantporten is one of the most distinctive sights in Carlsberg Byen: four massive granite elephants standing in pairs on either side of the road, their backs supporting a compact brick tower that straddles the street. Each elephant is carved in solid stone, with gently folded ears, detailed harnesses and resolute expressions, turning a functional gateway into a piece of monumental sculpture. Beneath their bellies, traffic and pedestrians still pass, just as horse-drawn wagons and brewery workers did more than a century ago. The elephants were carved from Bornholm granite based on models by sculptor H.P. Pedersen-Dan, following sketches by architect Vilhelm Dahlerup. Their smooth, rounded forms contrast with the red brick and decorative details of the tower above, creating a theatrical composition that feels both whimsical and imposing.

From Industrial Gateway to Protected Icon

Completed in 1901, Elefantporten originally marked the main entrance to the Ny Carlsberg brewery from the Valby side, at a time when the Carlsberg complex was a self-contained industrial city. The tower functioned first as a water tower for the brewery and later as a grain silo, standing at the practical heart of beer production even as it announced the company’s ambitions and identity. As brewing moved elsewhere and the district transformed, the Elephant Gate shifted from industrial infrastructure to cultural landmark. The structure is now officially protected, recognizing both its architectural value and its role in Copenhagen’s industrial heritage. Walk around the base and you can still sense how the gateway once controlled movement into a busy production site, while today it serves as a sculptural portal between old brick brewhouses and new apartments, shops and creative offices.

Symbols, Mottos and Hidden Stories

The elephants at the gate are loaded with symbolism. They were commissioned by brewer Carl Jacobsen, who chose the animal as a sign of strength, loyalty and perseverance. The four animals are said to represent his four surviving children, with the two elephants holding spheres at their trunks often interpreted as the younger ones heading off to play, while the others face toward the city. High above, on the tower, the Latin motto “Laboremus pro patria” – “Let us work for the fatherland” – expresses Jacobsen’s belief that business success should serve a wider national purpose. Jacobsen’s inspiration came from an earlier elephant: Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s baroque sculpture on Rome’s Piazza della Minerva, where an elephant carries an obelisk. Translating that idea into a gateway for a modern brewery gave Carlsberg a powerful visual emblem, one that has appeared on posters, labels and artworks for generations and still feels instantly recognisable today.

Architecture Amid a Changing Neighborhood

Architecturally, Elefantporten blends ornamental historicism with industrial function. The brick tower above the elephants is relatively small in floor area, yet it rises assertively, punctuated by arched openings and decorative stonework. From some angles it frames glimpses of the adjacent Ny Carlsberg Brewhouse and other historic structures, forming a layered streetscape of chimneys, gables and towers. Around the gate, the former brewery grounds have been reshaped into Carlsberg Byen, a dense urban quarter of housing, offices, cafés and cultural venues. The elephants now sit in the midst of everyday city life: children posing between their legs, cyclists gliding underneath, and locals cutting through on their way to nearby parks and the zoo. Despite the changes, the gate still works as a visual anchor, tying the new neighborhood back to its brewing roots.

Experiencing the Gate Up Close

Spending time at Elefantporten is about noticing details as much as taking the classic photo. Walk slowly around each elephant and you will find carved harness straps, ornamental patterns and small variations in posture and expression. Look up to read the motto, trace the brickwork of the tower and seek out the viewpoints where the elephants line up with neighboring chimneys or the skyline of Vesterbro. The space under and around the gate is compact yet busy, with passing bikes, delivery vehicles and pedestrians sharing the road. It is worth stepping slightly back along Ny Carlsberg Vej or to nearby small squares to appreciate the full composition. Early morning and late afternoon light bring out the texture of the granite and brick, while after dark, carefully placed lighting turns the elephants into glowing sentinels of the former brewery city.