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In the mirror, I appear to be wearing oversized gilded pantaloons, seen exclusively in my view. Youngsters sit in a stone basin acting as ocean creatures, and adjacent rests a chatting legume in a exhibition box, beside a tall pile of mattresses. It represents the domain of the beloved author (1805-1875), among the nineteenth-century's most beloved writers. I find myself in Odense, situated in Fyn in the southern region of the Danish kingdom, to investigate Andersen’s lasting influence in his native city 150 years after his passing, and to discover a few enchanted tales of my own.

The Cultural Center: HC Andersens Hus

Andersen's House is the town's cultural center honoring the storyteller, including his original residence. An expert explains that in previous versions of the museum there was little focus on Andersen’s stories. Andersen's biography was examined, but The Little Mermaid were absent. For visitors who travel to the city seeking fairytale wonder, it was a little lacking.

The redesign of the city center, rerouting a major road, created the chance to reconsider how the city’s most famous son could be celebrated. 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 remarkable timber-clad museum with interlinked spiral spaces launched to significant attention in 2021. “Our goal was to build a place where we move beyond simply describing the writer, but we communicate similarly to Andersen: with wit, satire and outlook,” says the representative. Even the gardens take this approach: “This is a landscape for explorers and for giants, it’s designed to create a feeling of diminutiveness,” he says, an objective realized by thoughtful gardening, manipulating elevation, size and many winding paths in a surprisingly compact space.

Andersen's Impact

The author penned several personal accounts and regularly provided conflicting accounts. HC Andersens Hus adopts this philosophy fully; often the opinions of his friends or fragments of correspondence are displayed to gently question the writer's personal account of events. “The author is the guide, but he's untrustworthy,” says the expert. The outcome is a compelling rapid journey of Andersen’s life and creations, thinking patterns and most popular stories. This is thought-provoking and whimsical, for grown-ups and kids, with a bonus underground fantasy realm, the pretend town, for the children.

Discovering the City

Returning to the physical town, the compact town of Odense is picturesque, with cobbled streets and historic timber buildings colored in cheerful shades. The writer's influence is everywhere: the road indicators feature the author with his signature top hat, metal shoe prints give a no-cost Andersen walking tour, and there’s a sculpture trail too. Every August this focus reaches its height with the regular Andersen celebration, which honors the his influence through visual arts, movement, drama and melodies.

Recently, the seven-day event had 500 shows, the majority were complimentary. As I explore this place, I come across colorful performers on stilts, fantastical beings and an Andersen lookalike sharing tales. I experience empowering poetry and observe an amazing nocturnal display including graceful performers coming down from the municipal structure and hanging from a construction equipment. Still to come this year are presentations, family art workshops and, expanding the narrative tradition beyond Andersen, the city’s yearly Magic Days festival.

Each wonderful enchanted locations deserve a castle, and Fyn features numerous historic homes and manor houses across the island

Pedaling Through History

As in much of the country, bicycles are the perfect means to get about in the city and a “bike path” meanders through the city centre. Departing from Hotel Odeon, I pedal to the free waterside bathing area, then into the countryside for a circuit around the nearby islet, a small island linked by a road to the primary land. Local inhabitants picnic here after work, or appreciate a peaceful time fishing, aquatic activities or taking a dip.

Back in Odense, I dine at a local eatery, where the food selection is derived from Andersen themes and stories. The literary work the patriotic piece appears at the restaurant, and proprietor the host reads extracts, rendered in English, as he introduces the meal. This is a practice repeated often in my time in Odense, the local residents love a yarn and it seems that sharing tales is continuously offered here.

Historic Estate Tours

Each wonderful enchanted locations deserve a fortress, and Fyn boasts over a hundred manors and stately homes throughout the region. Going on excursions from the city, I explore the historic fortress, Europe’s best-preserved moated palace. While much of it are open to visitors, the castle is also the family home of the noble family and his spouse, the princess. I ponder if she might sense a tiny vegetable through a pile of {mattresses