Posted on March 11, 2010 by Leo

denmark

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/Fascinations with fairytales begin at childhood. Most find themselves imagining princely futures when they grow up in castles throughout foreign lands. In Denmark, the fairytale is ingrained in the country’s history. From famous fairytale writer and Dane Hans Christian Anderson to the mystical scenery of the country, Denmark allows travellers to live out the lives only found on the pages of idealized tales. /
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/The first settlements in Denmark were those of hunters at the end of the last Ice Age in 12,500 B.C. The country unified early, around 700 A.D. finding a central power. The actual name “Denmark” was first recorded on the famous Jetting Stones. These have been deemed the country’s official birth certificate. The Vikings would enter the Denmark history picture from 800 to 1100, launching expeditions and plunders of France, Ireland and Russia. Other periods in Demark’s history featured rivalries with Sweden and the establishment of the country’s monarch./
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/While Denmark is a small country in northern Europe, it contains many attractions, natural or historic that are really best explored with a car. Car hire in Denmark sets the ball, or rather, wheels in motion towards covering the entire country. /
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/Many head to the capital city to get to know the true heart of the country. Copenhagen certainly holds that Danish zeal through its unique architecture and setting along water. Like any European capital city, Copenhagen holds cosmopolitan aspects with shops, restaurants, and bars. Cameras tend to go off along the waterfront in the city for most of picturesque scenes present themselves here. The Statue of the Little Mermaid rests along the Copenhagen waterfront. The Danish author Hans Christian Anderson created that little mermaid. Today, thousands of tourists come to pay their respects to this popular Dane. Canal tours are also offered of the city so people can make the most of Copenhagen./
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/Around Copenhagen and the rest of Denmark, the coastline presents natural respites from city life. Not many would think of such a northern country supplying sandy coves for beach lounging, but Denmark proudly offers small fjords and peaceful isolation with nearly every turn of the boat./
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/A visit to Denmark cannot avoid encounters with Vikings. The Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde lies just 19 miles outside the capital city. It is home to 5 ancient vessels that were rescued from the harbour’s waters. The Vikings moved around this country even more, and visitors will take notice. The city of Alborg holds the largest remaining Viking burial site. /
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/When one pictures their dream castle, usually a moat or lake is involved. If you throw in a few turrets and add some history, then you will find that castle in Denmark. This dream exists fully in southern Funen. Egeskov looks completely and utterly fake, positioned on a lake with the structure reflected in the water. Manicured greenery hugs the surrounding area. It is so picturesque that travellers may find their eyes playing tricks on them when a princess seemingly appears in one the windows. It is a sight one must see to believe. Egeskov remains the best-preserved moat castle in all of Europe, completed in 1554./
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/Of course, Denmark has more fairytale castles than just Egeskov. Kronborg Castle in Elsinore bears connections with Shakespeare’s Hamlet. It appears in his work, making this Renaissance castle famous in the real and literary world. Tours are offered to view just what is inside. Although the view from its exterior much like the Egeskov Castle is enough to get that imagination to wander. Viewers may leave both of these Denmark castles with princely complexes. /
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/A report recently came out that announced the Danes as the happiest people in the world. Move over Disneyland, Denmark is apparently the happiest place on earth and locals have ear-to-ear smiles to prove it./
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