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Looking at my reflection, I appear to be wearing enormous gilded pantaloons, perceptible only to me. Children relax in a rock pool acting as ocean creatures, meanwhile nearby rests a chatting legume in a exhibition box, next to a tall mound of bedding. This is the world of the beloved author (1805-1875), a leading 1800s widely adored storytellers. I’m in this Danish town, on the island of Fyn in the south of Denmark, to discover Andersen’s lasting influence in his native city a century and a half after his demise, and to find a couple of enchanted tales of my own.

The Museum: HC Andersens Hus

The H.C. Andersen Museum is the city’s cultural center dedicated to the storyteller, incorporating his original residence. A museum representative explains that in earlier iterations of the museum there was little focus on Andersen’s stories. His personal history was explored, but The Little Mermaid were nowhere to be found. For guests who come to this place in search of narrative enchantment, it was somewhat disappointing.

The redevelopment of downtown Odense, rerouting a primary street, made it possible to reconsider how the local celebrity could be honored. A prestigious architectural challenge awarded Japanese firm the renowned designers the contract, with the museum's fresh perspective at the heart of the structure. The remarkable wood-paneled museum with interlinked spiralling spaces debuted to great fanfare in 2021. “We’ve tried to build a place where we avoid discussing the author, but we speak in the manner of Andersen: with wit, sarcasm and perspective,” notes the expert. The landscape design embrace this concept: “It’s a garden for wanderers and for colossal creatures, it’s designed to give you a sense of smallness,” he explains, an objective achieved by thoughtful gardening, manipulating verticality, proportion and many winding paths in a deceptively small space.

Andersen's Impact

He authored several autobiographies and regularly contradicted himself. HC Andersens Hus embraces this concept to heart; typically the views of his friends or snippets of written messages are presented to politely doubt the writer's personal account of events. “The author is the storyteller, but he's untrustworthy,” says the representative. The effect is a fascinating swift exploration of the author's biography and work, thought processes and favorite narratives. This is stimulating and playful, for mature visitors and youngsters, with a additional basement make-believe land, Ville Vau, for the children.

Discovering the City

Returning to the actual city, the modest urban center of the municipality is charming, with cobbled streets and old wooden houses finished in bright colours. The writer's influence is ubiquitous: the road indicators show the author with his iconic top hat, brass footprints provide a complimentary pedestrian route, and there’s a art walk too. Each summer this focus reaches its height with the regular storytelling event, which marks the author’s legacy through visual arts, dance, drama and melodies.

Recently, the week-long event had 500 shows, most of which were complimentary. During my time in this place, I meet painted stilt-walkers, spooky creatures and an Andersen lookalike telling stories. I listen to empowering poetry and see an amazing late-night performance including acrobatic dancers coming down from the municipal structure and hanging from a crane. Upcoming events in the coming months are lectures, hands-on activities and, expanding the storytelling legacy further than the writer, the city’s yearly enchantment celebration.

All good enchanted locations need a castle, and the island boasts 123 castles and stately homes around the area

Cycling and Exploration

Similar to much of the country, bicycles are the perfect means to navigate in Odense and a “bicycle route” curves through the urban core. Starting at my accommodation, I ride to the complimentary waterside bathing area, then beyond the city for a loop around the nearby islet, a compact territory connected by causeway to the primary land. Town dwellers have outdoor meals here after work, or take pleasure in a tranquil moment fishing, paddleboarding or bathing.

Returning to Odense, I dine at the themed restaurant, where the culinary offerings is derived from the writer's motifs and narratives. The poem the patriotic piece is highlighted when I visit, and manager the host reads extracts, translated into English, as he introduces the meal. It’s an experience commonplace in my days in the city, the island inhabitants enjoy storytelling and it feels as though narrating is always on the menu here.

Manor House Visits

All good magical places need a fortress, and this region features over a hundred manors and stately homes throughout the region. Traveling briefly from Odense, I tour the historic fortress, the continent's most intact Renaissance water castle. Although large sections are available for tours, the castle is also the private residence of the aristocratic owners and his partner, the royal resident. I wonder if she would notice a pea through a pile of {mattresses