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In the mirror, I appear to be wearing huge golden pantaloons, visible only to me. Children sit in a water feature acting as sea nymphs, and nearby sits a talking pea in a display case, next to a imposing mound of mattresses. It represents the domain of the beloved author (1805-1875), among the nineteenth-century's widely adored storytellers. I’m in Odense, located on Fyn in the southern part of the Danish kingdom, to explore the author's timeless impact in his native city 150 years after his passing, and to experience a couple of magical stories of my own.

The Exhibition: The Andersen Museum

HC Andersens Hus is the city’s cultural center celebrating the writer, including his original residence. An expert notes that in previous versions of the museum there was scant attention on his fairytales. The writer’s life was studied, but Thumbelina were absent. For visitors who come to this place seeking narrative enchantment, it was a little lacking.

The redesign of downtown Odense, diverting a major road, made it possible to reconsider how the city’s most famous son could be honored. A prestigious architectural challenge awarded Japanese firm Kengo Kuma and Associates the commission, with the innovative curatorial vision at the heart of the structure. The distinctive wood-paneled museum with interlinked spiral spaces debuted to significant attention in 2021. “Our goal was to create a space where we move beyond simply describing Andersen, but we talk like him: with humour, satire and perspective,” explains the curator. Even the gardens take this approach: “The outdoor area for strollers and for giants, it's planned to create a feeling of diminutiveness,” he explains, an objective achieved by thoughtful gardening, playing with height, proportion and multiple meandering routes in a unexpectedly limited space.

The Writer's Legacy

Andersen wrote multiple autobiographies and regularly changed his story. The museum embraces this concept seriously; frequently the views of his acquaintances or snippets of letters are presented to gently question the author’s own version of happenings. “Andersen is the storyteller, but he’s not reliable,” notes the representative. The outcome is a compelling whirlwind tour of the author's biography and art, thinking patterns and favorite stories. This is thought-provoking and playful, for adults and children, with a additional basement imaginary world, the pretend town, for the youngest visitors.

Discovering the City

Back in the actual city, the small city of this Danish city is delightful, with cobbled streets and old wooden houses painted in bright colours. The author's presence is ubiquitous: the street signals feature the author with his distinctive formal headwear, bronze footmarks give a complimentary guided stroll, and there’s a outdoor exhibition too. Annually in August this focus peaks with the annual storytelling event, which marks the writer's impact through visual arts, performance, stage shows and music.

During my visit, the week-long event had numerous performances, many were without charge. As I explore this place, I encounter artistic acrobats, spooky creatures and an Andersen lookalike telling stories. I hear empowering poetry and see an incredible nocturnal display featuring athletic artists descending from the municipal structure and hanging from a construction equipment. Still to come in the coming months are talks, hands-on activities and, expanding the storytelling legacy further than the writer, the city’s regular enchantment celebration.

Each wonderful enchanted locations deserve a castle, and Fyn features over a hundred manors and stately homes around the area

Biking Adventures

As in much of the country, bikes are the ideal method to get about in this town and a “bicycle route” curves through the downtown area. Starting at the local hotel, I pedal to the complimentary harbour-side swimming pool, then out of town for a route around Stige Ø, a compact territory connected by causeway to the larger island. City residents picnic here after work, or enjoy a peaceful time angling, paddleboarding or taking a dip.

Back in town, I dine at Restaurant Under Lindetræet, where the menu is based on author-inspired concepts and tales. The verse Denmark, My Native Land is featured when I visit, and manager the host reads extracts, presented in English, as he presents each course. It’s an experience frequent in my time in Odense, the island inhabitants enjoy storytelling and it seems that sharing tales is constantly on the menu here.

Castle Explorations

Every excellent enchanted locations need a fortress, and the island features numerous historic homes and manor houses throughout the region. Taking day trips from Odense, I tour the historic fortress, the region's best-preserved Renaissance water castle. While much of it are accessible to the public, Egeskov is also the family home of Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille and his spouse, Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. I ponder if she might sense a tiny vegetable through a mound of {mattresses