Attractions - Denmark

Attractions - Copenhagen

Odense, Denmark

The pleasant city of Odense offers the visitor the best of both worlds - a busy social hub and charming areas offering quiet areas for rest and relaxation. The city dates to pre-Viking times and is the third-largest city in Denmark, acting as a major commercial and transport centre. Located on Funen - Denmark’s second-largest island- Odense is named after Odin, the Norse god of war, poetry and wisdom.

Without question, the proudest boast of this affable city is that it is the birthplace of one of the world’s most famous storytellers, Hans Christian Andersen. Odense features many attractions related to Andersen, including the Hans Christian Andersen Hus, the main museum dedicated to the writer. Located in a pleasant neighbourhood of cobbled streets and featuring a park with a delightful pond, this museum presents a mesmerising array of memorabilia. Other Andersen attractions in Odense are the Hans Christian Andersen Barndomshjem, the writer’s childhood home, and Hans Christian Andersen Haven, a charming riverside park. Pay a visit to the intriguing Sankt Knuds Kirke, the only example of true Gothic architecture in Denmark. Built in the 12th century, this cathedral features a glass case containing the 900-year-old skeletons of King Canute II and his brother Benedikt. Other areas of note include the Carl Nielsen Museet, a museum dedicated to the life and work of Denmark’s most famous composer, and the Fyns Kunstmuseum, an art gallery of some repute containing a fine collection of Danish art. Experience the life of yesteryear at the Funen Village, an open-air museum comprising a reconstructed 19th-century village, or marvel at the fantastic chimpanzee enclosure at Odense Zoo. Enjoy a bracing walk at Odense’s top-quality golf course or take a guided tour of the city and experience its development from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The attraction of Odense lies in its relatively small size, meaning it can easily be sampled within a day or two. Experience a bike ride along the converted rail tracks of Odense that criss-cross the city or ride at your leisure along the canals. Buy a schnitzel from one of the many bakeries or cafés and enjoy the free summertime concerts at the open-air amphitheatre at Brandts Kloedefabrik. Stroll down the narrow streets with their half-timbered houses, stopping off to browse in the antique shops scattered around or simply sit and watch life go by in engaging and intimate Odense.

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