Viking Odense
In the heart of Funen, where the Odense River winds through the landscape, lies a city deeply rooted in the Viking Age. Where Harald Bluetooth built t...
Explore Odense's history
- one of Denmark’s oldest cities
Welcome to Odense - one of Denmark’s oldest cities, where history lives on in the midst of modern city life. It all began by the Odense River, where the Vikings settled over a thousand years ago. In the Middle Ages, the city grew into a religious centre with the impressive St. Canute’s Cathedral, where kings were buried and pilgrims travelled to seek the sacred.
In 1805, Hans Christian Andersen was born in a small room in the city centre – and his legacy can still be felt everywhere, from museums to sculptures and atmospheric streets. During the industrialisation of the 19th century, Odense was connected to the rest of the country by rail, and the city’s breweries and factories spurred growth.
Today, Odense is a vibrant cultural city with modern museums, green parks, and a light rail system that connects it all. Here, you can walk in the footsteps of history – while enjoying the city’s culinary scene, art, and nature. Odense is past and future in one.
