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Looking at my reflection, I seem to have on enormous shimmering pantaloons, visible exclusively in my view. Youngsters play in a rock pool imitating mermaids, while adjacent resides a chatting legume in a exhibition box, beside a tall mound of bedding. This is the world of H.C. Andersen (1805-1875), one of the 19th century’s widely adored writers. I'm visiting this Danish town, situated in Funen in the south of this Nordic country, to discover the author's enduring legacy in his home town many decades after his death, and to find a few fairytales of my own.

The Museum: The Andersen Museum

HC Andersens Hus is the local museum dedicated to the storyteller, incorporating his childhood house. A museum representative states that in past designs of the museum there was minimal emphasis on Andersen’s stories. Andersen's biography was examined, but The Little Mermaid were absent. For tourists who come to this place looking for fairytale wonder, it was not quite enough.

The redesign of Odense city centre, rerouting a major road, made it possible to reimagine how the city’s most famous son could be celebrated. A major architecture competition gave the Japanese company Kengo Kuma and Associates the commission, with the museum's fresh perspective at the core of the design. The distinctive wood-paneled museum with interwoven spiral spaces opened to great fanfare in 2021. “We have attempted to design an environment where we move beyond simply describing Andersen, but we talk like Andersen: with comedy, satire and viewpoint,” says the curator. Even the gardens embrace this concept: “This is a landscape for explorers and for colossal creatures, it's created to make you feel small,” he says, an objective achieved by clever planting, experimenting with elevation, proportion and numerous twisting trails in a unexpectedly limited space.

The Author's Influence

Andersen wrote two and a half memoirs and frequently provided conflicting accounts. The museum takes this approach fully; typically the perspectives of his acquaintances or fragments of letters are presented to politely doubt the writer's personal account of happenings. “Andersen is the narrator, but his account isn't always accurate,” notes the curator. The outcome is a engaging rapid journey of his personal story and work, mental approaches and best-loved narratives. It’s stimulating and whimsical, for grown-ups and children, with a additional basement make-believe land, the pretend town, for the children.

Discovering the City

Back in the actual city, the small city of Odense is charming, with historic pathways and old wooden houses painted in vibrant hues. The writer's influence is everywhere: the road indicators display the storyteller with his distinctive top hat, bronze footmarks provide a free Andersen walking tour, and there’s a art walk too. Every August this dedication reaches its height with the yearly storytelling event, which celebrates the author’s legacy through art, performance, theatre and music.

During my visit, the multi-day festival had numerous performances, most of which were without charge. While visiting Odense, I encounter colorful performers on stilts, ghoulish monsters and an writer impersonator sharing tales. I listen to empowering poetry and observe an amazing late-night performance including graceful performers coming down from the municipal structure and suspended from a mechanical arm. Still to come in the coming months are presentations, hands-on activities and, expanding the oral history beyond Andersen, the city’s regular enchantment celebration.

All good enchanted locations need a castle, and Fyn contains numerous historic homes and estates throughout the region

Biking Adventures

Like other Danish regions, bikes are the best way to navigate in Odense and a “bike path” curves through the city centre. Starting at my accommodation, I pedal to the public waterside bathing area, then into the countryside for a circuit around Stige Island, a small island joined by a bridge to the larger island. Town dwellers have outdoor meals here following their day, or take pleasure in a quiet hour catching fish, water sports or taking a dip.

In town, I visit Restaurant Under Lindetræet, where the culinary offerings is inspired by author-inspired concepts and narratives. The verse the patriotic piece is highlighted when I visit, and manager the host recites passages, presented in English, as he serves every dish. Such encounters frequent in my days in the city, the island inhabitants enjoy storytelling and it appears storytelling is continuously offered here.

Castle Explorations

Every excellent enchanted locations require a castle, and the island features 123 castles and estates across the island. Traveling briefly from town, I tour the historic fortress, Europe’s finely maintained moated palace. Although large sections are open to visitors, the castle is also the personal dwelling of the noble family and his spouse, the princess. I contemplate if she can feel a tiny vegetable through a mound of {mattresses