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Denmark
Located in northern Europe, Denmark is bordered by the North Sea, the Baltic Sea, and Germany, which is its only connection to the European mainland. Most of its landmass is occupied by the Jutland peninsula while the remaining 500 islands, of which only a hundred are occupied, comprise the rest of the country. The Skagerrak and Kattegat straits separate it from Norway and Sweden.
The present-day Denmark owes its cultural and linguist origins to the Danes who migrated here from Sweden in around AD 500. Denmark's history, till the medieval period, is marked by much carnage and bloodshed. The Thirty Years War with Sweden followed by the Napoleonic Wars inflicted damages on the economy of the country. Although Denmark remained neutral in both the World Wars, it surrendered to Germany in 1940 following the large build-up of German forces along its borders.
Denmark's prime attraction is its capital Copenhagen, one of the liveliest cities Europe, which also has an active nightlife. Most of the city's attractions are concentrated in a small area, while the parks, gardens, squares, and fountains are interspersed all over.
If you happen to be a lover of music, the city of Aarhus offers you everything from symphony performances to theatres, apart from the Den Gamle By (The Old Town), which is an open-air theatre and the city's piece de resistance.
The historical town of Roskilde is worth a visit because of the recent explorations that have unearthed a wealth of details about its rich past. Odense on the island of Funen is the capital of Fairytails. In this charming city you find the house of Hans Christian Andersen. Walking the streets of the historic center you will see where he got his inspiration from.
Then there are the spectacular white chalk cliffs of Mon's Klint, on the island of Lolland ; the 17th-century Egeskov Castle; and the picturesque theme park called Legoland in central Jylland that are worth visiting.
Cycling is an activity that tourists often indulge in Denmark along with swimming and surfing. Although you can visit Denmark throughout the year because of its mild climate, May and June see the country at its best.
Copenhagen
In 1167 Copenhagen was a tiny village called “Havn”, king Valdemar I gave to his trustee, the bishop of Absalon of Roskilde. Since then it gradually grew to be the first city of Denmark, also because the harbour of Roskilde became inaccessible to the larger trading ships. In 1417 Copenhagen became the capital of Denmark. It’s now by far the largest and most important town in Denmark, with numerous Museums and the hippest Nightlife in the country.
It has an old center and some interesting town development schemes of the 18th, 19th and 20th century. Not just the royal palaces are a sight to see; just as remarkable is the squatters quarter Christiania. Of course one should visit Copenhagens idol, the little mermaid statue near the Churchillpark. As most objects you already know from countless pictures it’s rather disappointing and not nearly as impressive as the Gefion fountain. But these are things one should experience oneself.
Sights
Alexander Newskij Kirke
A remarkable russian-orthodox church.
Amalienborg
The Amalienborg palace is the home of the royal family. The palace is splitted in four identical palais. The palais was built in 1750. Since 1794 the royal family lives in the palais. The statue in the middle of the palace represents Frederik V.
Børsen (Stock Exchange)
This very old building was built by Christian IV between 1619 and 1620. The building is no longer used as a stock exchange.
Carlsberg
The Carlsberg building, home of the famous Danish brewery. The building was constructed in 1847.
Rådhus (City Hall)
The city hall was buildt in 1905.
Trinitatis Kirke
This church was built in 1656. Under the roof of the church is the old university library. After a fire in the year 1728, the building was reconstructed.
Nyhavn (New harbour)
The New Harbour is nearly the oldest part of the harbour. In former times the district was full of crime and prostitutes, in the presence Nyhavn is an amusement district with many coffeeshops. All harbour tours start from here. The house number 20 is the birthplace of Hans Christan Andersen.
The Black Diamond
The Black Diamond, or Den sorte diamant, is a 1996 addition to the Royal Library in Copenhagen. A spectacular structure on the waterfront, with views over to Christianshavn, a restaurant, frequent cultural events and state of the art interior design.
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