Nyborg Castle - Odense

Route: Copenhagen - Nyborg Castle - Odense - Copenhagen
Duration: 8 h
Our first stop will be at the Nyborg Castlewhich is a restored medieval castle in Nyborg on the Danish island of Funen. The castle in the heart of Nyborg town was an important royal palace from the 13th century up until 1560, and  it was here that King Eric V Klipping signed Denmark's first constitution in 1282. The castle was also the venue for the Danehof, the country's first parliament.  Though only a part of the structure survives, the castle is fairly impressive seen from certain angles, and houses banqueting halls and a museum. It's photogenically set behind earthwork bastions and a partial moat amid a loop of pretty medieval buildings. The castle is operated as a part of Østfyns Museum (Østfyns Museer) which also includes Borgmestergården in Mads Lerches Gård. Next we will reach the city Odense where you have a chance to visit this fairy tale town of Hans Christian Andersen where you will hear  a story about the Ugly Duckling, which later became a beautiful swan. Our tour we will begin from Albanigade Bridge and walk north past the recently salvaged medieval bishop's house to the soaringly spired 1867 Catholic church, Sankt Albani Kirke. Then we will turn east on Adelgade to Paaskestræde, whose picturesque houses descend photogenically towards pretty riverside gardens. The little half-timbered building at Paaskestræde 1 was once the poorhouse school where HC Andersen studied. We  will turn right onto cobbled Nedergade, whose northern side is lined with crooked old houses incorporating galleries and eclectic stores. The most delightful is Kramboden, beside which a half-timbered courtyard alleyway cuts through to Overgade. Next we will walk to another of the city's prettiest alleys is Mønterstræde: during work hours don't miss opening the three doors marked Kig Ind ('look inside') to see the furnished interiors of 17th-century almshouses. During the tour you will see the interesting museum Møntergården, the architecturally bland Radisson Blu Hotel, the Hans Christian Andersen statue which look to a 1631 house, Story-book streetscapes along Ramsherred and Hans Jensens Stræde, the Sankt Hans Kirke, a former monastery rebuilt in 1723 as a palace building and now used as city offices, the Gråbrødre Kloster was once another monastery, the surrounding area is great for bars and cafes, and there's even a microbrewery within the grand 1881 Rådhus (town hall) building. After free time we will return to Copenhagen.
Price: Per person