København, known to the rest of the world as Copenhagen,
wonderful Copenhagen, became the capital of Denmark in 1415, but several
of its fine old buildings date from the reign of King Christian IV, from
the late 16th to the mid-17th century.
Of
all the
Scandinavian countries, Denmark is the friendliest. With an area of
16,600 square miles, it’s roughly twice the size of Wales, but with a
population of about five million. Apart from Jutland, which is connected
to the European Continent, it consists of nearly 500 islands of which
100 are inhabited, giving a total coastline of 4,500 miles. Though it
lacks the high scenic drama of its northern neighbors, its countryside
is fair and fertile.
Rising only 557 feet, it features landscapes of
undulating, farmlands punctuated by woods and the huddle of picturesque
old villages and farms. There’s something timeless and relaxing about
these tidy landscapes, though change is evident as reduced dairy herds
lead to increasing arable production and rosy pigs disappear into the
warm sheds of factory farming. This makes Denmark an ideal and well
organized country for farmhouse holidays with its very special family
appeal.
There’s much to see, too–rich collections
dating back to prehistory, numerous traces from Viking times, and many
castles and monasteries reflecting the prosperity of the Middle Ages
when men cleared the great forests. After the monk Ansgar introduced
Christianity in the 9th Century, the village church became a
major feature of rural Denmark along with the half-timbered farms and
inns. It was the monks who taught the people to fire clay, accounting
for the predominance of brick as a building material throughout the
country. Later came the castles, manors and parks reflecting and
adapting the Renaissance styles especially from Holland.
Denmark's other great natural feature is the
complexity of its coastlines, providing splendid sheltered waters for
boating, bathing, fishing and other water sports. Among the stirring
sights of the Danish summer is the fluttering of a myriad colorful sails
during the Funen and Sealand regattas which attract not only expert
sailors but many families. Hundreds more take part in marches or
organized walks.
Denmark also overflows with culture, from jazz
and medieval jousting to street theater and the Royal Danish Ballet.
Denmark's pleasure gardens, including Copenhagen's Tivoli, the largest
and most sophisticated, typify the Danish talent for catering for all
tastes and all ages in the same place at the same time.
Every year about 95 000 people die in
Sweden and, according to the law, everyone must be buried. There must be
room for everyone in the cemeteries, therefore the future needs of space
have to be predicted. Because of this funerals must be part of the
planning process.
In
the early Middle Ages, driven by famine at home and the promise of
wealth to be had in other lands, the Vikings set out from Scandinavia to
conquer parts of England, Ireland, France, Russia, and even Turkey.
Bolstered by their successes, the Vikings pushed westward, eventually
crossing the North Atlantic and founding settlements in Iceland,
Greenland, and Newfoundland in Canada. Read
moreGo to the Book Shop >
Of
all the
Scandinavian countries, Denmark is the friendliest. With an area of
16,600 square miles, it’s roughly twice the size of Wales, but with a
population of about five million. Apart from Jutland, which is connected
to the European Continent, it consists of nearly 500 islands of which
100 are inhabited, giving a total coastline of 4,500 miles. Though it
lacks the high scenic drama of its northern neighbors, its countryside
is fair and fertile.
In
the early Middle Ages, driven by famine at home and the promise of
wealth to be had in other lands, the Vikings set out from Scandinavia to
conquer parts of England, Ireland, France, Russia, and even Turkey.
Bolstered by their successes, the Vikings pushed westward, eventually
crossing the North Atlantic and founding settlements in Iceland,
Greenland, and Newfoundland in Canada.