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Looking at my reflection, I seem to have on oversized shimmering pantaloons, perceptible just for my eyes. Kids sit in a water feature pretending to be sea nymphs, while nearby resides a chatting legume in a exhibition box, alongside a tall pile of bedding. It embodies the world of the beloved author (1805-1875), a leading 19th century’s widely adored writers. I find myself in the city of Odense, on the island of the island of Fyn in the south of Denmark, to investigate Andersen’s enduring legacy in his home town 150 years after his death, and to discover a couple of fairytales of my own.

The Museum: The Andersen Museum

The H.C. Andersen Museum is the city’s museum dedicated to the author, featuring his original residence. A curator states that in earlier iterations of the museum there was little focus on the author's tales. His personal history was examined, but The Little Mermaid were absent. For tourists who travel to Odense seeking narrative enchantment, it was not quite enough.

The redesign of downtown Odense, diverting a major road, provided the opportunity to rethink how the renowned native could be celebrated. A major architecture competition gave the Japanese company the Kengo Kuma team the project, with the innovative curatorial vision at the center of the structure. The remarkable wooden museum with connected spiralling spaces debuted to great fanfare in 2021. “We have attempted to design an environment where we avoid discussing Andersen, but we speak in the manner of Andersen: with comedy, satire and perspective,” says the representative. The outdoor spaces take this approach: “It’s a garden for explorers and for colossal creatures, it's planned to give you a sense of smallness,” he says, a challenge accomplished by clever planting, playing with verticality, proportion and numerous twisting trails in a unexpectedly limited space.

The Writer's Legacy

He authored multiple memoirs and regularly provided conflicting accounts. HC Andersens Hus adopts this philosophy seriously; often the opinions of his acquaintances or snippets of letters are shown to subtly challenge the his narrative of happenings. “The author is the narrator, but he’s not reliable,” says the representative. The result is a engaging swift exploration of Andersen’s life and art, thought processes and favorite tales. It’s stimulating and fun, for grown-ups and kids, with a additional lower-level imaginary world, the fictional village, for the youngest visitors.

Visiting the Town

In the real world, the modest urban center of the municipality is delightful, with historic pathways and historic timber buildings colored in bright colours. The author's presence is ubiquitous: the traffic lights show the storyteller with his signature formal headwear, metal shoe prints provide a free guided stroll, and there’s a outdoor exhibition too. Each summer this focus peaks with the regular storytelling event, which marks the author’s legacy through art, dance, theatre and musical performances.

This year, the multi-day celebration had numerous performances, the majority were complimentary. While visiting the city, I come across colorful performers on stilts, fantastical beings and an Andersen lookalike sharing tales. I experience empowering poetry and observe an incredible evening show with graceful performers descending from the town hall and dangling from a mechanical arm. Upcoming events this year are lectures, hands-on activities and, expanding the storytelling legacy further than the writer, the city’s regular wonder event.

Each wonderful fairytale destinations require a fortress, and this region contains numerous historic homes and manor houses around the area

Cycling and Exploration

Similar to much of the country, bicycles are the perfect means to travel around in the city and a “bicycle route” curves through the urban core. Departing from Hotel Odeon, I ride to the public port-side aquatic facility, then into the countryside for a route around Stige Ø, a small island joined by a bridge to the mainland. Town dwellers picnic here following their day, or take pleasure in a peaceful time catching fish, water sports or swimming.

In the city, I visit Restaurant Under Lindetræet, where the food selection is inspired by the writer's motifs and narratives. The literary work the patriotic piece appears during my meal, and proprietor the restaurateur shares excerpts, translated into English, as he introduces the meal. Such encounters repeated often in my visit, the island inhabitants enjoy storytelling and it feels as though sharing tales is constantly available here.

Castle Explorations

Every excellent enchanted locations deserve a castle, and this region contains numerous historic homes and manor houses throughout the region. Going on excursions from Odense, I tour Egeskov Castle, Europe’s most intact moated palace. Although large sections are open to visitors, the castle is also the private residence of Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille and his partner, the royal resident. I wonder if she would notice a small legume through a stack of {mattresses