| Denmark |
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| Denmark is a small country but has long been important strategically. It is a gateway from Scandinavia to continental Europe. Due to this several different cultural groups have left their mark.
I will spend one day in Aalborg, 2 days in Arhus, 2 days in Odense, 6 days in Copenhagen, and 1 day in Roskilde. With two days as a buffer this makes for 14 days. |
| Aalborg
Aalborg has been a city for over 1000 years. It originated as a trading post. Evidence points to it being a large and important crossroads settlement. During the middle ages it prospered and became one of the largest cities in Denmark. The town�s wealth grew rapidly after 1516 because Aalborg was granted a monopoly in salt herring. Early in WWII it was captured by the German army. I wasn�t able to find a whole lot of information. Finding a cheap place to stay might be a bit difficult here. Things to Do: Buldofi Dom Kirke- There are colorful frescos in the foyer. It is dedicated to St. Butolph, patron saint of sailors. Aalborg Historiske Museum- This museum concentrates on the history of the town. Lindholm H�je- This hilltop is the site of 682 graves from the Iron and Viking eras. Hellig�ndsklostret- This monastery is the oldest building in Aalborg and was built in 1431. Check out the storage cellars that often operated as prisons. You must take a guided tour to see this. �rhus �rhus�s oldest artifacts date back to the seventh century when there was a Viking settlement here. During the 17th century the town suffered a great deal. Swedish troops ravaged the town and then over taxed those living there. The plague also hit at this time. Despite all of these problems �rhus was still an important city for trade. However, it wasn�t until the 19th century that it gained independence from Copenhagen and Hamburg. Soon it began expanding its cultural institutions and called itself the capital of Jutland. Things to Do: Den Gamle By- This is an open air museum with about 75 homes from around Denmark. �rhus Damkirke- This is Denmark�s longest cathedral. Be sure to check out the excellent frescos. Vor Frue Kirke- The best part of this church is in the basement. Here you can see the original crypt from an earlier cathedral built in 1060. �rhus Kunstmuseum- This museum has a good collection of 19th and 20th century Danish art. Moesg�rd Prehistoric Museum- This museum has displays from the Stone Age to the Viking age. Be sure to check out the 2000 year old Grauballe man found in a local bog. Day Trip Jelling Church- This is located in Jelling and is one of the most important historic sites in Denmark. Check out the 12th century frescos and the runes. Outside is a stone with the oldest representation of Christ in Scandinavia. There are also two huge burial mounds. Odense Odense is one of the oldest cities in Denmark. During the middle ages it was a site for pilgrimage for thousands a people. Then in the 16th century it became a meeting place for the local parliaments. During WWII the Nazi�s occupied the town and blew up the Odinst�rnet, at the time the second tallest tower in Europe. It has never been rebuilt. Things to Do: HC Anderson Museum- This museum depicts his life story through memorabilia and books. Sankt Knuds Kirke- This cathedral was built in the 13th century. The most interesting bit is the glass case in the basement that holds the remains of King Knud II. He is over 900 years old. Den Fynske Landsby- This open air museum is laid out like a small country village. It really allows you to step back in time. Kathryn you are such a dork. M�nterg�rden- This museum concentrates on the history of Odense. Bymuseet Museum- This museum traces Odense�s history back to the Vikings. There is a good section on everyday life in the middle ages. Copenhagen Copenhagen was founded around 1000 by Sweyn I Farkbeard and his son Cnute the Great. It started as a small fishing village, but this all changed in the middle of the 12th century. In 1167 the town was fortified and the harbor expanded. This made Copenhagen a center for commerce. In fact, this is where the name comes from. The Hanseatic League attacked it many times. In 1658 and 1659 Copenhagen withstood a terrible siege from the Swedes. Then in 1801 the battle of Copenhagen was fought in the harbor. The British bombed the harbor in 1807 to prevent the city from surrendering to Napoleon�s forces. Great damage was done to the city and hundreds of people were killed. During WWII German troops occupied the city. Today it is a large metropolitan center. Things to Do: Little Mermaid Statue- Not really all too exciting, but still, when in Rome. Vor Frue Kirke- This is Copenhagen�s cathedral. Be sure to check out the works by Bertel Thorvaldsen. Rundet�rn- The round tower gives a great view of the city. It was built in 1642. Rusenborg Slot- The main attraction of this 17th century castle is the crown jewels. Statens Museum for Kunst- This is Denmark�s national gallery. Be sure to notice the 19th century Danish masters collection. Royal Reception Chambers in Christiansburg Palace- This is where the queen entertains various heads of state. National Museet- This museum holds the worlds largest collection of Danish artifacts. Check out the section on Vikings. Christiania- This is an area of the city that is known for experimental living. You should take a tour. Tivoli- This amusement park is in the middle of the city. It might make a fun night out. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek- This museum has a nice collection of Greek, Egyptian, Etruscan, and Roman sculptures. There is also a section on European artists. Carlesberg Brewery- This self guided tour ends with a beer. Frihedsmuseet- This museum deals with the Danish resistance against the Nazi�s. Canal Tours- This could be an interesting way to learn about the city. Guinness World of Records Museum- Interactive displays put you in touch with various Guinness record winners. Museum Erotica- School children are taken here to learn about sex. There is a section on the sex lives of the rich and famous. Politihistorisk Museum- Nordic crime is brought to life in this police history museum. You can see items that figured in major causes. Ripley�s Believe It or Not- You�ve seen the one at Atlantic City, so it only seems fitting to check this one out as well. Daytrip from Copenhagen To complete this trip you will need to suck it up and rent a car. Shouldn�t be too expensive; just try to plan ahead a bit. Frederiksborg Castle- This impressive Dutch Renaissance castle is spread over three islands. Today it is a museum. Be sure to see the coronation chapel. Fredensborg Palace- This is the royal family�s summer residence. The walk along the lake is the best part. Helsing�r- This is a small port town that may be an excellent stop for lunch. Kronborg Castle- This was the castle in Shakespeare�s Hamlet. It�s definitely worth a look inside. Kronborg- This is a nice small medieval town. You might want to check out the city history museum. Karmeliterklustret- This is one of Scandinavia�s best preserved medieval monasteries. Roskilde Roskilde was the capital of Denmark until 1400 and the first Christian church in Denmark was built here. Besides that I wasn�t able to find much information on it. Things to Do: Roskilde Domkirke- This church was begun in 1170, but has been altered so many times that it has a strange style all its own. Be sure to check out the crypts of Danish kings. Viking Ship Museum- These ships were found in pieces at the bottom of the Roskilde fjord in 1962. They have been reconstructed. Roskilde Museum- This museum covers the history of the city. |
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