Åsum - City of the Norse Gods?
Åsum holds fascinating traces from the Viking Age and Late Iron Age. Discover a historic hub where trade, craftsmanship, and Norse beliefs came togeth...
A modern city with over 1,000 years of history
Photo: Andreas Bastiansen
Odense is one of Denmark’s oldest cities – and also a vibrant modern city constantly evolving. Here, past and present meet in the city streets, where you can feel history come alive – from the Viking Age and the Middle Ages to the era of Hans Christian Andersen. From the Odense River and ancient monastery walls to modern cultural centres and creative urban spaces.
From Vikings to market town
Odense’s story began long before Hans Christian Andersen. As early as the Viking Age, the area around the Odense River and Åsum was a key hub for trade and craftsmanship. The name “Odense” comes from “Odins Vi” – a sacred place dedicated to the god Odin. Finds such as a dress pin over 30 cm long from Skt. Jørgensparken and traces of early settlement show that this place was buzzing with life long before the city officially gained market town status.
DID YOU KNOW – A Viking dress pin over 31 cm long was found in Odense – one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe!
Hans Christian Andersen’s Odense
On 2 April 1805, Hans Christian Andersen was born in a small house on Hans Jensens Stræde. Back then, Odense was a provincial town with shoemakers, washerwomen and small craftsmen. Childhood impressions left a lasting mark on many of Andersen’s fairy tales, and although he later became world-famous, his roots were firmly rooted in the city. Today, you can visit both his birthplace and the new Hans Christian Andersen House, where his stories unfold through architecture, sound and light.
DID YOU KNOW – Odense is older than Copenhagen? It was first mentioned in 988, making it one of the oldest cities in the Nordic region.
Industrial growth and transformation
In the mid-1800s, the railway reached Odense, and the city grew rapidly. New factories, breweries and housing sprang up, turning Odense into a centre for industry and transport. A strong working-class culture emerged, and many of the old industrial buildings still exist – now transformed into cultural venues, restaurants or offices.
Odense i dag – fortid i fremtidens byrum
I dag er Odense i gang med en omfattende byomdannelse, hvor gamle fabrikker forvandles til kreative miljøer og kulturhuse. Den historiske bykerne er blevet forbundet med åen og grønne områder, og de mange lag i byens historie er bevaret og sat i spil på ny. Museerne, street art, skulpturer og stemningsfulde gader inviterer dig til at gå på opdagelse – både i fortiden og i nutidens kreative byliv.
Photo: Skytte Visuals
Photo: Line Slot
Ready to experience Odense’s history for yourself?
Follow our digital Viking route or visit one of our historical museums – and discover a city where history lives on in the streets.
