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In the mirror, I seem to have on huge gilded pantaloons, perceptible just for my eyes. Youngsters play in a water feature imitating ocean creatures, meanwhile nearby resides a talking pea in a showcase, beside a imposing mound of cushions. It embodies the universe of H.C. Andersen (1805-1875), among the nineteenth-century's highly cherished writers. I'm visiting this Danish town, on the island of Fyn in the southern region of the Danish kingdom, to discover the writer's enduring legacy in his birthplace a century and a half after his passing, and to discover a couple of fairytales of my own.

The Exhibition: HC Andersens Hus

The H.C. Andersen Museum is the local museum celebrating the storyteller, incorporating his original residence. An expert states that in earlier iterations of the museum there was little focus on Andersen’s stories. Andersen's biography was studied, but Thumbelina were missing. For tourists who come to Odense looking for fairytale wonder, it was not quite enough.

The redesign of the city center, rerouting a primary street, made it possible to rethink how the renowned native could be commemorated. A major architecture competition awarded the Japanese company the Kengo Kuma team the commission, with the curators’ new approach at the core of the layout. The distinctive timber-clad museum with connected curving spaces opened to great fanfare in 2021. “We have attempted to create a space where we don’t talk about the writer, but we communicate similarly to him: with comedy, sarcasm and viewpoint,” says the representative. The outdoor spaces take this approach: “It’s a garden for strollers and for colossal creatures, it's created to make you feel small,” he notes, an objective accomplished by thoughtful gardening, experimenting with elevation, proportion and numerous twisting trails in a surprisingly compact space.

Andersen's Impact

He authored several autobiographies and often provided conflicting accounts. HC Andersens Hus adopts this philosophy seriously; typically the perspectives of his companions or fragments of correspondence are displayed to subtly challenge the his narrative of incidents. “The writer is the storyteller, but his account isn't always accurate,” explains the curator. The result is a compelling swift exploration of the author's biography and work, mental approaches and favorite stories. This is thought-provoking and playful, for grown-ups and youngsters, with a additional underground make-believe land, the pretend town, for the children.

Discovering the City

Back in the actual city, the compact town of this Danish city is picturesque, with stone-paved roads and historic timber buildings colored in vibrant hues. The Andersen legacy is everywhere: the road indicators show the author with his signature characteristic hat, metal shoe prints give a no-cost guided stroll, and there’s a art walk too. Annually in August this dedication peaks with the yearly HC Andersen festival, which marks the writer's impact through creativity, performance, stage shows and musical performances.

Recently, the multi-day festival had hundreds of events, many were without charge. During my time in the city, I encounter colorful performers on stilts, ghoulish monsters and an writer impersonator telling stories. I listen to contemporary performances and witness an amazing late-night performance featuring athletic artists descending from the municipal structure and dangling from a mechanical arm. Upcoming events in the coming months are talks, hands-on activities and, expanding the oral history past the author, the city’s yearly Magic Days festival.

Every excellent magical places require a castle, and Fyn contains numerous historic homes and estates around the area

Biking Adventures

Similar to other Danish regions, bicycles are the best way to travel around in the city and a “bike path” curves through the urban core. Departing from the local hotel, I pedal to the complimentary port-side aquatic facility, then into the countryside for a route around Stige Island, a compact territory linked by a road to the primary land. Local inhabitants picnic here after work, or appreciate a tranquil moment angling, aquatic activities or taking a dip.

In the city, I visit the themed restaurant, where the menu is derived from author-inspired concepts and stories. The literary work the national ode is highlighted when I visit, and owner Nils Palmqvist reads extracts, translated into English, as he presents each course. This is a practice commonplace in my visit, the local residents appreciate narratives and it seems that sharing tales is constantly on the menu here.

Historic Estate Tours

Every excellent magical places require a fortress, and this region features numerous historic homes and manor houses across the island. Traveling briefly from town, I tour Egeskov Palace, Europe’s best-preserved historic fortress. Despite parts are open to visitors, this historic site is also the private residence of Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille and his partner, the princess. I ponder if she would notice a small legume through a mound of {mattresses