It is evident that when we think of Hans Christian Andersen, we recall the city of Copenhagen. It may seem right because that city is closely connected with his creative work. But just a few of us know, that his native city was Odense. There is placed his home, reequipped to a museum.
You may not be his fan, but I guess, everybody reads “The Snow Queen”, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier”, “The Little Mermaid”, “The Ugly Duckling” or “Thumbelina” and other works of art. And if his name makes you return to the childhood – visit that museum in Odense and you will be interested! In particular, if you are traveling with children.
The modest house, where the famous fairy teller was born in 1805, is situated in the old quarter, previously – the poorest in the city. The museum was opened there in 1908. Since that year, millions of people have visited this small building, 72 feet square. They wondered to know, how lived the famous storyteller. Though the social situation of the city has changed, it is evident how poor was the family of the great writer, who left us such a heritage.
The museum has manuscripts, books, letters, paintings, personal things and furniture - in brief, all the “symbolic” exhibits, representing the character of this wonderful person, and the factors influencing it. Through them, we may suppose, how he invented the ideas for his unusual fairytales.
Andersen’s home in Odense is a respected and popular sight of the city, attracting many tourists from around the world by its uniqueness.
We cannot deny that the whole city is one big museum of Andersen, the government and the citizens made a lot to cherish the memory of this famous Danish writer.