• Børnekulturhuset Fyrtøjet

The story of Børnekulturhuset Fyrtøjet is a story about being small and the outside world not having much confidence in you, and growing up to be big and beautiful… the parallel with one of the best-loved fairytales by Hans Christian Andersen, The Ugly Duckling, is obvious. And yet not so obvious. From the outset, Fyrtøjet was prepared to face difficulties in breaking through, and has put up a worthy fight requiring a good deal of self-confidence, to emerge as a distinguished centre of children’s culture, both nationally and internationally.

-“We have found our very own way of conveying fairytales, with drama, music, narration, workshops and costumes, and it’s incredibly exciting to see the effect on families. Many find that time just flies – the magic of the fairytales captivates children and adults alike, so they really have the opportunity to be together, enter into the spirit of things and immerse themselves in a fairytale world,” says Laura Windfeld-Høeberg, artistic and musical co-ordinator at Fyrtøjet.

This is also why families are encouraged to set aside plenty of time for a visit, and basically to be receptive and open when they enter. Right now, in addition to Hans Christian Andersen stories, Fyrtøjet is also presenting Astrid Lindgren’s narrative ‘Mio, min Mio’ (‘Mio, my Mio’) at Fyrtøjet.

“We have staff available to welcome each individual and explain what they can do in the different places. Parents find they can relax. It’s OK for children to fiddle with things and touch things; they’re allowed to join in when they want to, and we have fitted out the place in such a way that adults can join in too at any time. It’s about sharing experiences and being there for each other,” says Nis Grønager Madsen, who joined the team recently and has special responsibility for liaising with tourists.

“We always try to meet the visitors and the children where they’re at – but to overcome things like language barriers, for instance, we’ve invented a system of signage so that you can find your way around the centre visually. It works very well, but because the centre isn’t very big, you can go round again and again if you want to,” he says.

The emphasis is most definitely on doing what you want to do at your own pace. This creates a good atmosphere and a sense of relaxed calm that many people describe as unique.

Fyrtøjet, Hans Jensens Stræde 21, 5000 Odense C,
Tel: +45 66 14 44 11, www.fyrtoejet.com

• Harridslevgaard Slot

The red-brick Harridslevgaard estate on northwest Fyn has been known as ‘the Pirates’ Castle’ for hundreds of years… no one knows whether it was built as a defence against pirates, or by pirates, but the castle was the scene of a true drama of jealousy: the beautiful, vivacious young widow Anne Lykke, much admired by local farmers and common people, had an affair with Prince Christian ‘The Chosen One’, as he was known, son of warrior king Christian IV, who was something of a ladies’ man.

While the father was away at war, the young people had a merry time, which aroused the wrath of the king, and he immediately threw the young widow into prison. But the people and the nobles complained, so he was forced to release her. A jealous subject piped up and spread rumours about Anne Lykke being a witch.

Immediately, she landed back in prison, but by various means the truth came out about the jealous deceiver, and Anne Lykke was released from further proceedings. The love affair never blossomed, but in the great hall of Harridslevgaard is a little bay window that Anne Lykke is said to potter around at midnight to recall her carefree days with the jolly prince…

Harridslevgaard Slot, Assensvej 3,5400 Bogense,
Tel: +45 64 81 15 00, www.harridslevgaard.dk

• Valdemars Slot

Valdemars Castle was build 1639 - 1644 by Christian IV for his son, Count Valdemar Christian, hence the name of the castle.

The king started the major building project on Tåsinge when Valdemar Christian was 17 years old, and the king spared nothing to ensure that his son was given a royal palace. With Hans vand Steenwinckel as architect the king build a splendid renaissance castle equivalent in style and size to his own Rosenborg Castle.

Valdemar Christian, however, never used his palace - he preferred travelling Europe fighting in the many wars of that period. He never setteled on Tåsinge and in 1656 he died at a battle field in Poland, 34 years of age.

Today the castle is open to visitors and offers 4 museums as well as the largest minigolf course in Scandinavia.

• Elvira Madigan

One of the stories that is very much alive and well is the romantic, fateful love drama of the beautiful young circus princess, Elvira Madigan, and the Swedish lieutenant, Sixten Sparre.

They met while she was touring Sweden. He, a searching soul in an unhappy marriage, and she, the tightrope walker and star of her step-father’s circus. The couple fell head over heels in love and eloped to Fyn in 1889.

Their love was completely unacceptable and scandalous back then, so their flight ended in Nørreskoven on Tåsinge, where he shot first Elvira and then himself. They now lie buried in Landet Kirkegård cemetery. She was 21 and he was 35. 

Landet Kirke, Elvira Madigans Vej 39, 5700 Svendborg

• Egeskov Slot

Egeskov Slot (castle) is one of Europe’s finest old island forts, and legend has it that it was built from a whole oak forest in 1554. The castle has been the scene of many dramatic events in its long history.

One of the most famous concerns the beautiful young Miss Rigborg, who was bricked in on the orders of her father Laurids Brockenhuus with only a serving hatch for feeding. This brutal punishment was meted out to her after she had fallen in love with and borne a son to nobleman Frederik Rosenkrantz. When the furious patriarch died, however, her mother Karen Skram immediately had the wall torn down. The room where Rigborg was bricked in can still be seen. An unpleasant story – and Egeskov has another such tale.

There is a little wooden figure on the ceiling and according to legend it must never be removed. If it is, the castle will sink into the moat the night before Christmas Eve. No one knows whether this is the real explanation for the wooden figure. Another version is that if the water level in the moat sinks, the foundations will be laid bare, the old oak will rot and the castle will collapse. Today, Egeskov castle is a large, landscaped museum and experience centre with parkland, tree-top walking, a huge playground and a café.

Egeskov Slot, Egeskov Gade 18, 5772 Kværndrup,

Tel: +45 62 27 10 16, www.egeskov.dk

• H.C. Andersen Paraden

Throughout the summer, in the garden at the back of the Hans Christian Andersen Museum in the centre of Odense, you can experience fairytales being told and acted out by children and adults.

The internationally renowned Hans Christian Andersen Parade performs three times a day, with more than 20 fairytale figures of all ages in original costumes.

The Parade paints a picture of Hans Christian Andersen’s world. Catchy songs (The Ugly Duckling and others of the same kind), droll extracts from the most popular stories, as well as actor and entertainer Torben Iversen as the old writer, weaving together anecdotes and contemporary themes. A show without compare in the entire kingdom.

Lotzes Have at the Hans Christian Andersen Museum, Odense.
Free admission.

Lotzes Have, Bangs Boder, 5000 Odense C