ODENSE – Denmark's 3rd largest city, HC Andersen's birthtown
ABOUT Odense
Population: 173 000 (metro 196 000)
Country: Denmark
Tallest building: Albani Church
Region: Funen
Founded year (city rights): 1355
Area: 304 km²
Year visited: 2014
Odense, named after the viking god Odin, is Denmark's 3rd largest city and known as HC Andersens birthtown. It is situated on the island of Funen (Fyn), about 1.5 hours by train from Copenhagen. Odense flourished in the middle ages, since it was rebuilt after it was burnt down in 1249. Royalties have lived there, it is a historically important city so you will find many interesting buildings and architecture, both large and small scale -especially churches and museums. Latter years, Odense have been known as one of the Denmark's most multicultural cities. The port of the city, Odense Havn, is Denmark's only canal harbour. Odense used to have Europe's 2nd largest tower, the 175m tall Odinstårnet, but it was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II and still haven't been rebuilt.
MY EXPERIENCE
Why head for Copenhagen a 1500th time? I tried Odense instead, a bit further away and more expensive (train ticket), but worth it. Odense is a nice city, modern but still with many charming old typical Danish houses. I visited the HC Andersen museum, the Möntergården old houses and the Railway museum. (Composer Carl Nielsen is also from Odens, and there is a museum about him here). Unfortunately the skies were grey most of the time during my visit, it even rained a bit, but in the late afternoon the sun appeared.
This is a couple of blocks in the city center that used to be part of a clothing factory called Brandt's Klædefabrik. Today it is a typical gentrified hip area with much culture, restaurants, designer stores, cafés, pubs, offices, restaurants, museums and students apartments. Here you find the Media Museum, Brandts Museum, a private art museum and the concert place Magasinet. Brandst used to be Odense's biggest employer, but went bankrupt in 1977 and today it is a very vibrant neighbourhood, connected to Vestergade with Brandts passage.
Brandts Klædfabrik
Yoko Ono's "a whole to see", Brandts Klædfabrik. The building is the former clothing factory at Amfipladsen.
Very nice and complete tour. Thanks for sharing, Nightsky!
Odense is a very charming city. I´ve liked it, above all the neigbourhood where HC Andersen was born. It looks a lively city. I´ve liked its pedestrian streets full of life too.
These two parks are situated in the city center. Kongens Have is close to the central station and HC Andersen Haven is close to the cathedral and Town Hall Square.
KONGENS HAVE (ROYAL GARDEN):
Odense Slot (the Castle of Odense) is situated in Kongens Have (Royal Garden) and has roots in the 1200s. Since then it has been the administrative center for Odense since the reformation.It has also been a cloister, hospital, Royal residence and museum. Today it houses offices for administration and culture for the municipality of Odense. It was used as a restplace for kings during the travels within Denmark.
H.C. ANDERSEN HAVEN (HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN'S GARDEN):
This park, also called Eventyrhaven after HC Andersen's stories, is situated in central Odense, right behind the cathedral. It is famous for its sculpture of H.C. Andersen and has won the Nordic Green Space Award. It was established by a book club in 1876, then closed to public.
The statue of HC Andersen, erected in 1949, and Odense Domkirke (cathedral).
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