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Reflected back at me, I can see myself in oversized gilded pantaloons, visible exclusively in my view. Children play in a water feature imitating sea nymphs, and adjacent resides a chatting legume in a showcase, beside a towering mound of bedding. It embodies the domain of the beloved author (1805-1875), one of the 1800s highly cherished storytellers. I find myself in Odense, situated in Funen in the southern part of Denmark, to explore Andersen’s timeless impact in his native city many decades after his death, and to experience a handful of enchanted tales of my own.

The Exhibition: H.C. Andersen's House

HC Andersens Hus is the town's cultural center honoring the writer, incorporating his childhood house. An expert states that in past designs of the museum there was minimal emphasis on Andersen’s stories. The writer’s life was explored, but The Little Mermaid were nowhere to be found. For guests who visit the city seeking fairytale wonder, it was a little lacking.

The redesign of the city center, redirecting a major road, provided the opportunity to reimagine how the renowned native could be honored. A prestigious architectural challenge granted the architects from Japan Kengo Kuma and Associates the contract, with the curators’ new approach at the heart of the structure. The unique wooden museum with connected curving spaces opened to significant attention in 2021. “Our goal was to design an environment where we avoid discussing the writer, but we communicate similarly to him: with wit, sarcasm and viewpoint,” says the representative. The landscape design take this approach: “The outdoor area for explorers and for colossal creatures, it's planned to make you feel small,” he notes, a challenge achieved by thoughtful gardening, experimenting with height, size and numerous twisting trails in a unexpectedly limited space.

Andersen's Impact

Andersen wrote several autobiographies and regularly changed his story. The exhibition embraces this concept fully; typically the opinions of his friends or snippets of written messages are presented to gently question the his narrative of incidents. “The author is the storyteller, but he's untrustworthy,” says the curator. The result is a engaging swift exploration of the author's biography and work, thinking patterns and favorite stories. This is provocative and playful, for grown-ups and children, with a bonus basement imaginary world, Ville Vau, for the youngest visitors.

Exploring Odense

Back in the physical town, the modest urban center of Odense is picturesque, with stone-paved roads and traditional Danish homes colored in cheerful shades. The writer's influence is everywhere: the road indicators feature the writer with his iconic formal headwear, brass footprints offer a no-cost pedestrian route, and there’s a art walk too. Every August this dedication reaches its height with the yearly Andersen celebration, which marks the author’s legacy through creativity, movement, drama and music.

During my visit, the seven-day celebration had hundreds of events, many were without charge. While visiting the city, I encounter painted stilt-walkers, spooky creatures and an author double narrating adventures. I experience empowering poetry and witness an remarkable nocturnal display with acrobatic dancers descending from the town hall and dangling from a mechanical arm. Still to come this year are presentations, hands-on activities and, extending the storytelling legacy beyond Andersen, the city’s yearly enchantment celebration.

Each wonderful fairytale destinations require a palace, and Fyn contains numerous historic homes and manor houses throughout the region

Cycling and Exploration

Similar to much of the country, bicycles are the best way to get about in the city and a “cycling highway” curves through the urban core. Departing from my accommodation, I cycle to the free harbour-side swimming pool, then beyond the city for a circuit around Stige Island, a tiny landmass linked by a road to the primary land. Local inhabitants have outdoor meals here following their day, or enjoy a peaceful time fishing, aquatic activities or taking a dip.

Returning to Odense, I eat at a local eatery, where the menu is derived from Andersen themes and tales. The poem the national ode appears when I visit, and owner the restaurateur recites passages, translated into English, as he presents each course. This is a practice repeated often in my days in the city, the island inhabitants love a yarn and it feels as though storytelling is continuously available here.

Manor House Visits

Each wonderful fairytale destinations require a castle, and Fyn contains numerous historic homes and estates throughout the region. Traveling briefly from Odense, I visit Egeskov Castle, the region's finely maintained moated palace. While much of it are open to visitors, the castle is also the personal dwelling of the noble family and his wife, Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg. I wonder if she would notice a pea through a pile of {mattresses