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Looking at my reflection, I seem to have on enormous golden pantaloons, perceptible only to me. Youngsters play in a stone basin pretending to be sea nymphs, and adjacent resides a chatting legume in a display case, alongside a imposing pile of cushions. It embodies the universe of the beloved author (1805-1875), a leading 19th century’s widely adored authors. I’m in this Danish town, situated in Fyn in the southern part of the Danish kingdom, to explore the writer's enduring legacy in his birthplace a century and a half after his passing, and to discover a few magical stories of my own.

The Museum: HC Andersens Hus

The H.C. Andersen Museum is the local museum dedicated to the writer, incorporating his childhood house. A museum representative states that in previous versions of the museum there was scant attention on the author's tales. The writer’s life was studied, but Thumbelina were missing. For visitors who travel to the city looking for storytelling magic, it was not quite enough.

The redesign of the city center, rerouting a primary street, created the chance to reimagine how the local celebrity could be celebrated. An international design contest awarded the Japanese company the Kengo Kuma team the project, with the curators’ new approach at the heart of the structure. The distinctive wood-paneled museum with interlinked curving spaces debuted to much acclaim in 2021. “We have attempted to design an environment where we don’t talk about Andersen, but we speak in the manner of Andersen: with comedy, irony and perspective,” explains the representative. The outdoor spaces follow this philosophy: “This is a landscape for strollers and for colossal creatures, it's created to give you a sense of smallness,” he says, an objective achieved by thoughtful gardening, playing with elevation, proportion and multiple meandering routes in a unexpectedly limited space.

The Author's Influence

The author penned several memoirs and frequently provided conflicting accounts. HC Andersens Hus embraces this concept to heart; frequently the perspectives of his acquaintances or snippets of letters are presented to politely doubt the his narrative of events. “The writer is the narrator, but he’s not reliable,” notes the representative. The effect is a engaging swift exploration of the author's biography and art, thought processes and most popular stories. It’s thought-provoking and fun, for grown-ups and children, with a extra lower-level fantasy realm, the fictional village, for the children.

Exploring Odense

In the physical town, the compact town of the municipality is charming, with cobbled streets and traditional Danish homes finished in cheerful shades. The Andersen legacy is all around: the road indicators display the storyteller with his iconic formal headwear, brass footprints provide a complimentary guided stroll, and there’s a art walk too. Each summer this commitment culminates with the annual storytelling event, which marks the author’s legacy through art, dance, theatre and musical performances.

This year, the multi-day celebration had 500 shows, many were without charge. During my time in this place, I come across colorful performers on stilts, ghoulish monsters and an Andersen lookalike narrating adventures. I listen to contemporary performances and observe an remarkable late-night performance with graceful performers coming down from the municipal structure and hanging from a mechanical arm. Future activities during the season are presentations, family art workshops and, extending the storytelling legacy past the author, the city’s regular enchantment celebration.

Each wonderful enchanted locations deserve a castle, and this region features over a hundred manors and estates across the island

Cycling and Exploration

Like most of Denmark, cycles are the best way to get about in this town and a “bicycle route” curves through the urban core. Departing from my accommodation, I pedal to the free waterside bathing area, then into the countryside for a route around the nearby islet, a small island connected by causeway to the larger island. Local inhabitants picnic here after work, or appreciate a tranquil moment angling, paddleboarding or bathing.

Returning to Odense, I visit a local eatery, where the food selection is inspired by Andersen themes and narratives. The literary work the patriotic piece is featured at the restaurant, and owner Nils Palmqvist shares excerpts, translated into English, as he presents each course. Such encounters repeated often in my visit, the local residents love a yarn and it feels as though storytelling is constantly offered here.

Castle Explorations

Each wonderful magical places need a castle, and Fyn boasts over a hundred manors and manor houses around the area. Going on excursions from the city, I tour Egeskov Palace, Europe’s best-preserved Renaissance water castle. While much of it are accessible to the public, Egeskov is also the personal dwelling of Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille and his partner, the princess. I wonder if she might sense a small legume through a pile of {mattresses