What to see in an itinerary in Odense, a town in Denmark that gave birth to the fabulist Hans Christian Andersen.
Land of islands, castles and cliffs, theDenmarkit is the official home of Hans Christian Andersen, the beloved fabulist who, with his stories and his little mermaids, continues to brighten the childhood of millions and millions of little readers.
Many believe that Andersen's roots are uniquely connected withCopenhagen, the beautiful and colorful Danish capital which, without a doubt, is imbued in every corner of the very essence of the fabulist. From the Little Mermaid welcoming the ships to the New Port toHouse of Andersen Fablesin Rådhusplas, passing by the Statue-symbol erected near the Town Hall (City Hall), everything would suggest that Andersen's real places are only here. Yet it is not so.
The true soul of the writer resides inOdense, a small town well to the west of Copenhagen, in the heart of an island known as Fyn (or Funen).
The "Sanctuary of Odin" (this means Odense in the original language) is one of the oldest cities in Denmark and boasts a respectable artistic and cultural history. It stands exactly 2 hours by road from the Danish capital and, to reach it, it is necessary to cross one of the longest suspension bridges in all of Northern Europe: theStorebaeltsbroen.
With a clean and flowery pedestrian centre, Odense is a city built for fairytales. Its small and colorful houses evoke childhood and savvy memories. And it is precisely in one of those houses that Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805.
What to see in Odense: walking itinerary
In honor of the great fabulist, the city has had its alleys engravednumerous “footprints” size 47. Following this itinerary it is possible to retrace Andersen's story through those places (exactly 13) that were of great importance for his works.
The museum
The Andersen Museum is an excellent starting point to immerse yourself in the life and art of the writer. Through a colorful and imaginative exhibition, you will be able to "touch" the first scraps of paper, the first words, the first fairy tales. It is here that the workshop, the top hat, the travel gear and many other small personal "memorabilia" are located.
The Birthplace
It is the yellow house with a red brick roof where Andersen's family lived. Once it stood in the poorest area of Odense, while now it has almost become its symbol.
Sortrebrøde Square
This square housed the town's open-air theater. It is here that Andersen as a child collected the playbills and fantasized between theatrical and musical dreams.
The Hospice for the Poor
On the first floor of this building was the school where Andersen studied in his last years in Odense before moving to Copenhagen.
The Washhouse
Andersen's mother worked as a laundress in this old wash house that stands on the river. Her harsh working conditions are well described in her fairy tale “She was good for nothing!”.
The statue
The large bronze statue found in theFairy Tale Garden(Eventyrhaven) faces the deepest point of the river where, according to the fairy tale "The Bell Whirlpool", its spirit lives.
The prison
Andersen was in Odense prison as a visitor as his parents knew the porter. The building's atrocities are described in the novel OT
The Childhood House
From the age of 2 to 14, Andersen lived in a small house in Munkemøllestræde which, today, has become a museum with a poetic garden.
The Cathedral of San Canute
Odense Cathedral is one of the most famous monuments in the entire city. It is here that Andersen received his confirmation, an event which was followed by the writing of the fairy tale "The Red Shoes".
City Hall
The square in front of the Town Hall was lit with torches when, in 1867, Andersen received honorary citizenship from the entire population of Odense.
The Hospital
Gråbrøde was a complex consisting of a church, a hospital and a mental institution. It is here that Andersen used to listen to the ancient tales and the raving words of the "crazy".
The castle
Andersen's mother worked at the Castle as a laundress and often took her son with her. In that splendid courtyard, little Hans played with what would soon become Frederik VII.
The Church of San Giovanni
It is in this small church that, in 1805, Andersen was brought by the pastor because he "squealed like a cat". Inside there is now a commemorative plaque.
Beyond this itinerary, there are two other places in Odense that recall Andersen and which have been specially built for the little ones:Montegården (has an exhibition on Funen, an exhibition on Odense and a museum for children) and theFlintlock (the "House of culture" built specifically to welcome children among elves, trolls and other fairy-tale beings).
