Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Andersen in silhouette. Yet there's much more to the place than hatted storytellers, includ-
ing art hub Brandts, Denmark's best zoo, and a buzzing cafe scene.
The city is the transport hub for the rest of the island, making it the best base if you're
exploring without your own wheels.
BIG CITY CHANGES
Odense is in the process of reinventing itself, with some grand projects underway: re-
developing the harbour and university, plus the construction of a new hospital, and a new
concert hall, too.
In mid-2014, part of the four-lane Thomas B Thriges Gade (a main arterial road through
the city centre) was closed to traffic permanently to enable the city's historic heart to re-
connect - over the coming years, the road will be closed as far south as the river. In its
place, transformative new green spaces, buildings, bike lanes and underground car parks
are planned, and eventually a 14km light-rail to connect north and south.
It's a model for town planners everywhere: how to give a city back its heart, and give
over central areas to pedestrians and cyclists. It's not been without its critics, but political
consensus has helped.
In short, expect change in the city centre (and construction, too). If you're driving, get
your hands on an up-to-date map (or better yet, park on the centre's fringe and walk in).
Check the projects online at
www.odense.dk/storby
and
www.fragadetilby.com
, and look
out for the big red
Infoboksen
(
; Fisketorvet) in town, where lots of info is dis-
GOOGLE MAP
seminated.
History
Odense translates as 'Odin's shrine', for the god of war, poetry and wisdom. Despite hav-
ing no harbour, Odense was Denmark's largest provincial town by the middle of the 18th
century. In 1800 it was finally linked to the sea by a large canal. The city went from
strength to strength, becoming an important textile centre.
