
Denmark is a small & enchanted country whose hills & plains, woods, long beaches & heathery moors mark the point where Northern Europe ends & Scandinavia begins. Traditionally known as the land of fairytales
- after all, Hans Christian Andersen was born here
- the country lives up to its reputation by offering visitors breathtaking scenery, like romantic pastel-colored cottages with thatched roofs, charming villages & country churches, magical northern lights, & turreted castles surrounded by parks. But modern Denmark also has much more to offer. Design, high technology, innovation & futuristic architecture go hand in hand with the vestiges of the past, striking a perfect & fascinating balance. Copenhagen, the capital & most important city in Denmark, ably overcomes stylistic inconsistencies, & its Dutch-style Renaissance buildings sit alongside the most daring creations of modern architects. The city combines the slow pace of a small town with the hustle & bustle of a major metropolis, maintaining its ancient spirit but without closing the door to progress. Set at the crossroads of past, present & future, the Danish population loves all three eras equally & has created a perfect synthesis. The past returns in the historic commemorations of the Viking era, live ethnology museums & the creations of porcelain artists. All this has become a key to the present, & a heritage to be safeguarded for future generations. The Danes are also enormously protective of their natural environment, family & social traditions, the envied Scandinavian welfare model & the monarchy, represented by the beloved royal family that has ruled here for over a thousand years. This book does not illustrate modern Denmark as seen through the eyes of tourists, but the country as it is viewed & experienced by the Danes themselves & by those who, like them, share its genuine patriotic spirit. It is a journey along less-known itineraries to discover the heart & soul of Denmark.