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Looking at my reflection, I seem to have on oversized gilded pantaloons, seen exclusively in my view. Children sit in a rock pool imitating ocean creatures, while in the next room rests a chatting legume in a exhibition box, alongside a tall stack of cushions. It represents the world of Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875), a leading 1800s most beloved authors. I find myself in Odense, located on Fyn in the southern region of Denmark, to investigate Andersen’s enduring legacy in his birthplace 150 years after his passing, and to discover a couple of enchanted tales of my own.

The Exhibition: HC Andersens Hus

Andersen's House is the local museum celebrating the writer, including his first home. An expert states that in past designs of the museum there was scant attention on his fairytales. His personal history was examined, but The Ugly Duckling were absent. For guests who come to the city seeking narrative enchantment, it was somewhat disappointing.

The renovation of downtown Odense, redirecting a major road, made it possible to reimagine how the renowned native could be honored. A prestigious architectural challenge granted the architects from Japan the Kengo Kuma team the project, with the curators’ new approach at the core of the layout. The unique wooden museum with interlinked curving spaces debuted to much acclaim in 2021. “We have attempted to build a place where we don’t talk about Andersen, but we speak in the manner of him: with comedy, sarcasm and outlook,” says the representative. The landscape design embrace this concept: “The outdoor area for strollers and for large beings, it’s designed to give you a sense of smallness,” he says, an objective accomplished by strategic landscaping, manipulating elevation, size and multiple meandering routes in a deceptively small space.

The Writer's Legacy

The author penned several memoirs and often changed his story. The exhibition embraces this concept to heart; frequently the perspectives of his acquaintances or snippets of written messages are shown to gently question the his narrative of happenings. “Andersen is the guide, but he's untrustworthy,” says the representative. The result is a compelling whirlwind tour of his personal story and art, thinking patterns and favorite tales. It’s provocative and whimsical, for mature visitors and youngsters, with a extra basement make-believe land, the pretend town, for the youngest visitors.

Exploring Odense

Back in the real world, the compact town of this Danish city is charming, with cobbled streets and old wooden houses finished in cheerful shades. The writer's influence is everywhere: the street signals show the storyteller with his distinctive top hat, bronze footmarks provide a complimentary guided stroll, and there’s a outdoor exhibition too. Every August this focus reaches its height with the regular storytelling event, which honors the author’s legacy through visual arts, performance, drama and musical performances.

During my visit, the multi-day event had hundreds of events, many were free. During my time in the city, I come across colorful performers on stilts, fantastical beings and an Andersen lookalike narrating adventures. I listen to contemporary performances and see an remarkable late-night performance with graceful performers descending from the town hall and dangling from a mechanical arm. Upcoming events this year are lectures, hands-on activities and, extending the storytelling legacy further than the writer, the city’s regular Magic Days festival.

All good fairytale destinations need a castle, and Fyn boasts numerous historic homes and estates throughout the region

Biking Adventures

Similar to other Danish regions, bicycles are the perfect means to navigate in the city and a “bike path” meanders through the urban core. Departing from Hotel Odeon, I cycle to the free waterside bathing area, then beyond the city for a loop around Stige Island, a small island linked by a road to the larger island. Local inhabitants have outdoor meals here following their day, or enjoy a quiet hour fishing, paddleboarding or swimming.

Returning to the city, I visit a local eatery, where the menu is based on the writer's motifs and narratives. The literary work the national ode appears at the restaurant, and proprietor Nils Palmqvist reads extracts, translated into English, as he introduces the meal. Such encounters repeated often in my visit, the local residents love a yarn and it appears sharing tales is always on the menu here.

Manor House Visits

Every excellent enchanted locations require a fortress, and the island features 123 castles and manor houses throughout the region. Taking day trips from town, I explore Egeskov Palace, the region's finely maintained Renaissance water castle. While much of it are accessible to the public, this historic site is also the family home of the aristocratic owners and his spouse, the royal resident. I contemplate if she would notice a tiny vegetable through a pile of {mattresses