Sightseeing in Odense - what to see. Complete travel guide

Odense is one of the largest cities in Denmark and the birthplace of the famous storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. The streets of this place keep the memory of the world-famous writer, so here you can see many sculptures, which demonstrate the characters of his tales.

The city is rich in historical monuments and places of interest as well. The Tower of Odin is one of them. It was built in 1935 and occupied the second place in terms of height among the similar buildings in Europe. In 1944 the building was damaged by the explosion organized by the Danish Nazis. It was decided not to build the tower from the new one and so a miniature model was installed on its place.

Several major attractions are located around the central square of the city. Here you can see a beautiful cathedral and a monument dedicated to Andersen. One more amazing monument dedicated to Holy Canute, the patron saint and protector of the city is located on the opposite side of the square. The Nørregade Street is the location of an old palace named Odense Slot, which holds the meetings of the City Council. Not far away from the castle is located the monastery called Graabroedre kloster, in which walls is opened the largest nursing home of Odense. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

One of the biggest parks of Odense is also named in honor of the great storyteller. The park is located along a small river and is decorated with sculptures and carved benches. On the bank of the river you will see a model of a small boat made of steel. But the main location dedicated to Anderson can be found on the Munkemøllestræde Street. On this street the famous writer spent the majority of his life. Among other notable places recommended for visiting we can distinguish the Church of St. Alban, the Church of the Virgin Mary, Montergarden Mint and one of the most picturesque places - the Nonnebakken Hill.

A special landmark for the city is its original open-air museum called the "Funen Village". The museum occupies a vast area, it is a complex of beautiful wooden houses dated from the 16th to 19th centuries. All the houses presented here are original, they were brought here from different parts of Denmark. Each house houses its own interesting collection of ethnographic exhibits. Visitors to the museum have a chance to see collections of antique utensils and furniture, discover an old forge and various handicraft shops.

An equally interesting cultural facility is the Danish Railway Museum, the largest museum of its kind in Scandinavia. Opened in 1918, it was originally located in Copenhagen, and in 1975 it was moved to Odense. Today, its guests can see unique model railway layouts, ferries, and trains; the museum presents 15 antique vehicles. Today the museum covers 10, 000 square meters, and its most valuable exhibits are considered 19th-century locomotives.

Among the religious monuments is Saint Hans Church originally built in the 15th century as part of a large monastery. Over time, the monastery was abandoned and came to complete desolation. The church we can see is its only surviving part. According to historical data, the very first church in this place was built in the late 13th century. Many interesting old artifacts have been preserved within its walls. Next to the building, you can see the ruins of historic structures.

Another unique historical landmark is Egeskov Castle, which is more than 450 years old. The castle occupying a vast area of more than 1,100 hectares is located on the island of Funen. The building has as many as 66 rooms, there are also four ancient labyrinths on its grounds. Hedge mazes that can be seen around the castle are unique - they were formed almost 300 years ago. Today, within the walls of the castle, there is a rich collection of antique furniture and works of art. It has also preserved a beautiful music salon where it was possible to restore the atmosphere of the past as accurately as possible. All who visit the castle in the warm season have a chance to take a walk through the beautiful garden.