Suggestions for 5 days in Denmark
 

We've planned to spend 5 days in Denmark next May. Originally, we'd plan to divide the time, with three nights in Copenhagen and 2 nights in Arhus. Our mother's family emigrated to the US from Arhus in the late 19th century, and they once owned a farm near Mammen 40 miles outside Arhus where the famous Mammen Ax was found, along with other Viking relics.

However, Arhus is some distance away from Copenhagen, and we're not sure if it offers enough of interest to merit the travel time from Copenhagen. What do you think? Keep Arhus on our limited itinerary or not?

If you had 5 days in Denmark, how would you spend them?

Mary Fran: You do need a minimum of three days to do any kind of justice to Copenhagen and you would spend the better part of a day on ferries and the road to get to Arhus from Copenhagen. Arhus has a very large and complete Skansen (old restored village) which is very interesting and fun. There are several restaurants on the grounds and you can easily spend the better part of day at the facility. There is a bit of an old city center and an enjoyable canal walk with outdoor restaurants, cafes and entertainment. That's about it. A pleasant stop if you are passing through the area. Not really a destination location IMHO. Perhaps the chance to see the old farmstead would make it worth while.

Hi MF,

Arhus is a reasonable daytrip - 2:45 hr by train.

You might also like the Frederiksborg castle in Hillerod - under 1 hr by train.

See http://wictor.dk/wictor/frederiksborg/frbslotGB.html

((I))

Don't miss Elsinore/Kronborg Castle in Helsingor (end of commuter train from Copenhagen) -- interesting as possible setting for "Hamlet" and, if you read Harry Potter, there's also a surprise there in the "real" Hamlet's family tree.

And along the way, 10 min. walk from the Humlebæk/Louisiana stop on the same commuter line, is the fabulous Louisiana art museum. The modern art is good, the cafeteria is quite good, and the setting is really lovely.

I agree that Copenhagen should be given a minimum of 3 days. Visit the Tivoli gardens, some of the great museums (especially the Carlsberg Glyptotek), shop along Stroget,and if you have time, visit the Carlsberg brewery for their tour. However, I think a trip outside of Copenhagen to Arhus would be great. You will get to see the Danish countryside and get a better impression of the country.
When you are in Copenhagen, have lunch at "Ida Davidsen" for the most incredible open faced sandwiches in the world. Danish smorrebrod in this restaurant are truly works of art, and even though the prices are high, the experience is worth it!

Do you know exactly where the farm of your ancestors is? If so, I would absolutely visit it. That would be a priceless memory to have seen where your family came from. To me, that would me more important than anything else in Denmark.

But, if it isn't that important to you, I would stay in Copenhagen and do some of the trips suggested above. Another one is to Karen Blixen's home (Isak Dinesen who wrote Out of Africa) north of Copenhagen.

Thank you so much for your suggestions. Kristinlaine, you are right. It is important to me to visit the place from which my family came. We'll keep Arhus on the itinerary.

We don't know where the farm is. My cousin, who has researched our Danish ancestors a lot, visited Mammen many years ago and was never able to find the farm, which seems strange to me, because the farm was the site of an important archeological discovery, being the burial site of a Viking chieftan in the late tenth century and yielding many wonderful relics of Viking life. One would think the site would be marked in some way ...

However, I could find some connection with my ancestors in the church at Mammen, where I understand the bones of generations of our ancestors are stored, their graves having been disinterred and reused by later Danes, with the bones being moved to the parish church.

We plan to rent a car when we arrive at Copenhagen airport and drive 3.5 hours to Arhus. We might be able to make a stop at Odense on the way, and in any event, we'll see some of the countryside.

I don't think you will be sorry. I was fortunate enough to visit the farm in Pommern (then Germany, now Poland) where my great-grandparents lived before immigrating to America. I felt like I was truly walking in their footsteps and it was wonderful. It might not matter to some people, but it mattered to me.

Have you googled Mammen? There is a lot of information. I agree with Kristinelaine. I found family graves and homes where my grandparents lived at Fjelstrup which is south of Mammen. I met a professor on a bus there who put an ad in the paper asking about my relatives, and when I returned a month later, he took me to see five different families. The pastor of the church also was able to supply information. I think you could put an ad in the Mammen newspaper and/or write to the church for information. It was a wonderful experience for me. The area is not as interesting as Copenhagen, but because my grandparents came from there, it has a special meaning for me. In my opinion, the prettiest part of Jutland is Skagen on the north coast where the turn-of-the-century Danish Impressionists lived and painted. A good museum of their paintingscan be found on Stockholmsgade in Copenhagen.
Good luck with your search. Boots

kristinlaine, this is really off topic, but I want to stand on the shores of the Skagarak Sea off Jutland. My mother used to tell about a story her immigrant father told her when she was a little girl. Mom's family had a hired hand named Crhis on their farm near Frenchtown Montana. He used to get drunk regularly, but the kids all loved him. Chris moved on eventually, and the kids missed him sorely. Grandpa told the kids Chris had gotten a job hoisting the moon up in the sky over the Skagerak every night, so they would think of Chris when they looked up in the night sky and saw the moon.

On nights when the moon was hidden, Grandpa would tell them Chris had gotten drunk and dropped the moon in the Skagarak.

As I said, way off topic, but it makes me smile to think of my Mom believing so firmly that it was Chris who was responsible for the moon glowing in the night sky.

Boots, we were posting at the same time. How interesting your family was from the Mammen area also.

I have googled the web for Mammen and found a ton of stuff, because of the richness of the archeological find which was reportedly discovered on my great-grandfather's farm. I wish I'd known when I was growing up of my connection to the Vikings!

What was your family's name? My grandfather was Rasmus Kjeldsen, born in 1872. His father was Anton (Kjeld) Krissen (or) Christssen, forn 1790.

I apologize for digressing and for staying off travel topic, but I misspoke. Anton was my great-great grandfather, rather than my great-grandfather. My grandfather's father (my great-grandfather) was Peter Jacob Kjeldsen, born in 1836. The dates of birth I gave for father and son weren't adding up!

I love the story about Chris and the moon! No wonder you want to visit your ancestors' home.

One thing I would caution you about -- the story about the archeological finds being on your family's farm. That may well be true, but it might also be kind of a family myth. I have run across a couple "family myths" in my genealogical research. Of course, it would be nice if it were true, since it should help you find the right place.

If you could make contact with someone there ahead of time who might be interested in helping you find the right place (or living relatives) that would make the trip even more worthwhile for you.

Good luck and be sure to report back after your trip.

Recommend the unique, spotless and comfortable Ibsen's Hotel...walking distance to the Stroget...managed and owned by women...excellent Italian Restuarant, also, on bottom floor.
Second the motion on the Ida Davidson experience...be careful of exhorbitant prices...otherwise lunch can easily reach $100 for two...food outstanding and very special. Limit to four slections and it will be around $40...this can feed two people.
Heartily recommend both Friedrichsborg Castle and Lousiana (Humulbaek)... the Museum Louisiana is one of a kind..the setting is quite beautiful, too. Tivoli, in my opinion , is hokey but worth a quick visit. The crown jewels at Rosenborg Castle (in town Copenhagen)) is a good visit...and the Danish Resistance Museum, near the Little Mermaid (has the statue been replaced after it was vandalized?) is an important place to visit. A canal boat ride is colorful, too...and take in the changing of the guard at Amelienborg Palace. Have fun...
stu

Author: BootsN
Date: 11/12/2005, 01:42 pm
Hi Mary Fran,
My families' names were Hagedorn and Bossen. There is some question about the spelling of the latter, and I have not found anything about that family, but the Hagedorns were well known in the Haderslev-Fjelstrup area. My paternal Swedish family came to the U.S. because of bad economic conditions in Sweden, but I think the Hagedorns came because they were under German rule for a time and never wanted to fight again on the German side in a war. Though I am married, I have retained my Swedish name Nyström/Newstrom. Keeping track of those names is sometimes difficult. I note that Kjeldsen is the son of Kjeld whose last name was Krissen.
Do you happen to be from the Midwest? Many Danes, including my family, settled in Iowa, mine at and near Royal and Spencer. My grandparents later moved to South Dakota where I still live. I am lucky enough to go back to Scandinavia yearly.
My apologies to those who are looking for info on Denmark. I know my personal life cannot be interesting to you.
Good luck with your search.
Boots Newstrom

Yes, boots, my grandfather Kjeldsen did make a pass through the midwest, Reinbeck, Iowa, to be specific, before moving on to Montana. Please feel free to d-mail me at deerlodgebaby.com if you have any questions.

Absolutely go visit your family's homestead. My family comes from the island of Fuur, further north in the Limfjord. I've been there twice. Standing in a 1200-year-old church and looking at the font where my grandfather was christened was awesome. We walked around the churchyard and found the grave where my great-grandparents are buried. A woman raking the churchyard came up to us and said she noticed us looking at the grave and wondered if we were relatives. It turned out we were like fifth cousins. Pretty cool. Everyone in the area was SO nice when they foundout who we were. We learned lots more family history. Generally in Denmark the pastor of the local church can be the most help in locating local family, as the records of brths, deaths, and marriages are all kept in the church.
Don't miss Tivoli, but go at night and just stroll around under the lights and people-watch and listen to the music. It's a magical place at night. If you must ride any ride in Tivoli, the oldest continuously-operating roller coaster in the world is there. I can't remember the name, but it's the one that looks like a little train with an engineer sitting in the front car. Have fun.

Mary Fran, I don't know what d-mail is, and I was unable to get you at the address you gave. Please send me a note at [email protected]. Thanks

Hi Mary Fran, just want to add my 2 cents about Tivoli. It is gorgeous at night (you'll need a sweater in May) with the trees all lit up with little twinkling lights. There are (or used to be) several places to eat in the Garden itself, including a rather nice restaurant whose name escapes me. Bon voyage!

Thanks to you all for your help!

Boots, I've obviously made a typo in my e-mail address. I'll reply to you separately.

Thanks again all. I'm so looking forward to our visit to Denmark!