🔗 Share this article

In the mirror, I seem to have on enormous gilded pantaloons, visible only to me. Youngsters relax in a water feature acting as ocean creatures, and adjacent resides a speaking vegetable in a display case, beside a tall stack of cushions. It embodies the universe of H.C. Andersen (1805-1875), a leading 1800s highly cherished storytellers. I find myself in the city of Odense, on the island of Funen in the southern region of the Danish kingdom, to investigate the writer's enduring legacy in his birthplace 150 years after his passing, and to discover a handful of enchanted tales of my own.

The Exhibition: H.C. Andersen's House

The H.C. Andersen Museum is the local cultural center celebrating the writer, including his childhood house. An expert notes that in past designs of the museum there was little focus on the author's tales. Andersen's biography was explored, but The Little Mermaid were absent. For guests who come to the city in search of narrative enchantment, it was a little lacking.

The redesign of the city center, redirecting a main thoroughfare, provided the opportunity to reconsider how the renowned native could be commemorated. A major architecture competition granted the architects from Japan the renowned designers the contract, with the innovative curatorial vision at the core of the layout. The distinctive wood-paneled museum with interlinked spiralling spaces opened to much acclaim in 2021. “Our goal was to design an environment where we avoid discussing Andersen, but we speak in the manner of Andersen: with humour, sarcasm and outlook,” says the expert. Even the gardens embrace this concept: “It’s a garden for explorers and for large beings, it's created to make you feel small,” he explains, a goal achieved by thoughtful gardening, playing with height, size and numerous twisting trails in a deceptively small space.

The Author's Influence

He authored several autobiographies and frequently provided conflicting accounts. HC Andersens Hus embraces this concept seriously; frequently the views of his companions or fragments of letters are presented to gently question the author’s own version of incidents. “Andersen is the guide, but he's untrustworthy,” notes the expert. The outcome is a engaging whirlwind tour of Andersen’s life and art, mental approaches and most popular stories. This is provocative and playful, for mature visitors and kids, with a extra basement imaginary world, Ville Vau, for the smallest guests.

Visiting the Town

Returning to the physical town, the modest urban center of Odense is picturesque, with historic pathways and traditional Danish homes finished in bright colours. The Andersen legacy is everywhere: the traffic lights display the storyteller with his signature top hat, brass footprints offer a no-cost Andersen walking tour, and there’s a outdoor exhibition too. Annually in August this dedication culminates with the yearly HC Andersen festival, which honors the writer's impact through visual arts, performance, drama and musical performances.

During my visit, the multi-day celebration had 500 shows, the majority were free. As I explore the city, I meet artistic acrobats, ghoulish monsters and an Andersen lookalike telling stories. I listen to empowering poetry and witness an remarkable late-night performance with athletic artists coming down from the municipal structure and suspended from a crane. Future activities in the coming months are presentations, hands-on activities and, extending the narrative tradition beyond Andersen, the city’s annual Magic Days festival.

All good fairytale destinations require a fortress, and Fyn contains over a hundred manors and estates throughout the region

Biking Adventures

As in other Danish regions, bikes are the perfect means to travel around in the city and a “cycling highway” curves through the city centre. From the local hotel, I pedal to the free port-side aquatic facility, then into the countryside for a route around Stige Ø, a compact territory connected by causeway to the mainland. City residents picnic here following their day, or take pleasure in a peaceful time angling, paddleboarding or taking a dip.

In town, I visit Restaurant Under Lindetræet, where the menu is based on the writer's motifs and tales. The poem the patriotic piece appears at the restaurant, and proprietor Nils Palmqvist reads extracts, presented in English, as he serves every dish. Such encounters commonplace in my days in the city, the local residents love a yarn and it appears sharing tales is always on the menu here.

Manor House Visits

All good magical places need a castle, and this region boasts 123 castles and estates around the area. Taking day trips from town, I tour Egeskov Palace, Europe’s finely maintained historic fortress. Although large sections are accessible to the public, Egeskov is also the private residence of Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille and his partner, Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. I ponder if she can feel a small legume through a mound of {mattresses