The palm garden of Glyptoteket is home to ancient masterpieces from Egypt, Greece and Rome and the world’s second- largest collection of French Impressionists works, as well as pieces from Denmark’s golden age. (Photos courtesy of Wonderful Copenhagen, www.woco.dk)
The palm garden of Glyptoteket is home to ancient masterpieces from Egypt, Greece and Rome and the world’s second- largest collection of French Impressionists works, as well as pieces from Denmark’s golden age. (Photos courtesy of Wonderful Copenhagen, www.woco.dk)
Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen’s adopted city remembers him with this statue. ()
The Little Mermaid, a bronze statue inspired by a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale of the same name, is a Copenhagen landmark. ()
Copenhagen is a fashion capital. Every second November, Hyperhall, an international festival featuring the latest trends in high fashion, takes place in Oksnehallen. ()
Whew. Mention the words “culture” and “Copenhagen” to someone at the Danish Tourist Board and you can become quickly overwhelmed with details about upcoming events. Whether you have a weakness for art, music, design, museums, architecture or Viking history, you’ll find it in Denmark’s capital city. All you need is the energy and time to take it in.
Str∅get, the city’s cultural hub, offers entertainment, dining, shopping and lively street parties. The artsy Christiania district is full of galleries, cafés and bazaars. Other points of interest include Rosenborg Castle, home of the crown jewels; Tivoli, an amusement park built in the 1840s; Rundetårn, the round tower offering a great view of the old city; and Statens Museum for Kunst, which boasts an impressive collection of art and history.
In addition to the year-round offerings, Copenhagen has many special events planned for those with a cultural craving. Here is a sample.
¶Now through April 11: The 15th annual Film Festival of Denmark. www.natfilm.dk.
¶Now through Aug. 15: The Danish Museum of Decorative Art hosts “The Industrial Icons: Design Denmark,” an exhibition highlighting Danish industrial design from the 18th century to the present. www.kunstindustrimuseet.dk.
¶ April 8: Aarhus’ Art Museum, ARoS, opens the doors to 10 floors of modern art. www.aros.dk.
¶April 16: Tivoli amusement park, Copenhagen’s most popular tourist attraction, opens for the spring and summer. New rides and an annual music festival are among the attractions. www.tivoli.dk.
¶April 19: The Danish National Gallery hosts an exhibition to mark 100 years since silversmith Georg Jensen opened his workshop in Copenhagen. Activities continue throughout the year.
¶May: Celebrations and shows lead to the royal wedding of Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik on May 14. www.hkhkronprinsen.dk.
¶June 3-11: The Royal Theater hosts the third Bournonville Festival of ballet. www.bournonvillefestival.com.
¶June 9: Copenhagen’s Danish Jewish Museum opens in the historic former Royal Boat House beside the Royal Library. www.jewmus.dk.
¶Oct. 8: The annual Night of Culture, when more than 750 cultural offerings are available to the public beginning at 6 p.m. www.kulturnatten.dk
¶ July 2-11: The Copenhagen Jazz Festival. http://festival.jazz.dk.
That’s just in the next few months (and there’s more at the Danish Tourist Board site, www.visitdemark.com. (Click on “Denmark Today” for a month-by-month listing.)
Next year Copenhagen celebrates the 200th birthday (April 2) of writer Hans Christian Andersen, with events beginning in April. For more, go to www.hca2005.com or www.andersen.sdu.dk/rundtom/2005/index_e.html.
Whenever you go, if you should exhaust yourself trying to take in Copenhagen’s cornucopia of culture, consider stopping at Carlsberg Brewery at the end of a day to wash down your pleasant memories. Find details at www.carlsberg.com.
