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Reflected back at me, I can see myself in enormous shimmering pantaloons, visible just for my eyes. Children play in a rock pool acting as mermaids, and in the next room rests a chatting legume in a display case, alongside a towering mound of bedding. It represents the domain of H.C. Andersen (1805-1875), a leading 19th century’s highly cherished authors. I’m in the city of Odense, located on Fyn in the southern part of the Danish kingdom, to discover the writer's timeless impact in his birthplace many decades after his demise, and to experience a few fairytales of my own.

The Museum: H.C. Andersen's House

Andersen's House is the town's cultural center honoring the author, incorporating his first home. An expert explains that in earlier iterations of the museum there was scant attention on Andersen’s stories. Andersen's biography was explored, but Thumbelina were nowhere to be found. For tourists who travel to Odense in search of storytelling magic, it was a little lacking.

The redevelopment of the city center, rerouting a major road, made it possible to rethink how the local celebrity could be celebrated. A major architecture competition awarded the architects from Japan Kengo Kuma and Associates the contract, with the curators’ new approach at the heart of the layout. The remarkable timber-clad museum with interlinked spiralling spaces launched to great fanfare in 2021. “We’ve tried to design an environment where we avoid discussing the writer, but we communicate similarly to Andersen: with comedy, satire and viewpoint,” explains the representative. The outdoor spaces take this approach: “The outdoor area for wanderers and for colossal creatures, it's created to make you feel small,” he notes, an objective accomplished by clever planting, manipulating height, proportion and multiple meandering routes in a unexpectedly limited space.

Andersen's Impact

He authored multiple autobiographies and often contradicted himself. The museum embraces this concept fully; frequently the views of his companions or excerpts of letters are displayed to subtly challenge the writer's personal account of incidents. “The writer is the guide, but his account isn't always accurate,” says the representative. The outcome is a engaging swift exploration of his personal story and art, thinking patterns and most popular stories. This is thought-provoking and whimsical, for mature visitors and youngsters, with a extra lower-level imaginary world, Ville Vau, for the smallest guests.

Exploring Odense

In the real world, the modest urban center of the municipality is charming, with stone-paved roads and old wooden houses painted in vibrant hues. The Andersen legacy is ubiquitous: the traffic lights feature the author with his distinctive top hat, bronze footmarks provide a complimentary Andersen walking tour, and there’s a sculpture trail too. Each summer this dedication peaks with the regular Andersen celebration, which marks the author’s legacy through creativity, movement, theatre and music.

Recently, the multi-day celebration had hundreds of events, the majority were free. While visiting this place, I come across painted stilt-walkers, ghoulish monsters and an author double telling stories. I listen to feminist spoken-word pieces and see an amazing late-night performance with acrobatic dancers coming down from the municipal structure and dangling from a crane. Future activities this year are lectures, family art workshops and, broadening the narrative tradition beyond Andersen, the city’s regular Magic Days festival.

Every excellent magical places need a fortress, and this region contains 123 castles and estates throughout the region

Biking Adventures

As in most of Denmark, bicycles are the ideal method to travel around in this town and a “bike path” meanders through the downtown area. Starting at the local hotel, I pedal to the complimentary waterside bathing area, then out of town for a loop around the nearby islet, a small island joined by a bridge to the mainland. Local inhabitants picnic here following their day, or enjoy a quiet hour fishing, paddleboarding or bathing.

Back in town, I eat at Restaurant Under Lindetræet, where the culinary offerings is derived from author-inspired concepts and narratives. The literary work the patriotic piece appears during my meal, and manager the host recites passages, rendered in English, as he serves every dish. Such encounters frequent in my time in Odense, the fynbo enjoy storytelling and it seems that storytelling is continuously offered here.

Castle Explorations

All good fairytale destinations deserve a castle, and Fyn features numerous historic homes and estates throughout the region. Going on excursions from town, I tour Egeskov Castle, the continent's best-preserved moated palace. Despite parts are open to visitors, the castle is also the personal dwelling of the noble family and his spouse, the princess. I wonder if she might sense a tiny vegetable through a pile of {mattresses