A crocheted cigarette holding doll of one of Denmark’s most popular Queen’s is a tribute to the happy lifestyle of this wonderful corner of Scandinavia.
Queen Margrethe abdicated in January after 52 years in order to allow her son Frederik X to become King. The popular former monarch spent her reign mixing freely with her subjects and was known for her love of smoking and buying hotdogs from the many street traders across the tiny kingdom.
And her sense of fun was immortalised in a collection of dolls commissioned by The National Museum of Denmark’s Kongernes Jelling to mark her half century.
The light-hearted exhibition is one of the highlights of this fascinating museum, which also pays homage to 10th century Viking king, Harald Gormsson, better known as Bluetooth, who united Norway and Denmark in 958.
Over a thousand years later, his nickname was adopted by the clever inventors in America’s Silicone Valley when they joined together the personal computer and mobile phone industries with wireless technology.
And the quirky logo is taken from the Scandinavian runes alphabet, bringing together Harald’s initials of H and B. Not bad for a boy from Jelling, which today is home to a UNSECO protected world heritage site.
The museum is a short drive from Billund, the hub for low cost airlines from the UK and also home to the humble building brick.
It was 1930, when Danish carpenter Ole Kirk Kristiansen first invented LEGO® after falling on hard times. Starting life as a wooden building block, it soon expanded and today the Kirk Kristiansen family still own the factory in the heart of the town and there are nods to the famous son throughout, which play a big part of its ethos. Pavements are decked out as play areas to encourage young and old to have fun and be active.
Central is the LEGO® House, which is incredible fun for all ages. There are experience zones which will blow your mind, from brick inspired fish tanks to displays of the most incredible projects which have been painstakingly made by enthusiasts from around the world. It’s all interactive and one special feature turns a photograph of a person into a portrait.
The Mini Chef restaurant is a real experience too, with the menu designed to allow the diner to create their own LEGO® box of food, served by robots.
A short walk from the themed hotels, which are a dream come true for enthusiasts, there is the LEGOLAND® fun park, with its mini LEGO® town and fairground rides for all ages and brick built landmarks of the world. Just across the road, the holiday resort of Lalandia is another family favourite. The Centre Parcs style complex has lots of food and leisure options, plus a fabulous swimming area with saunas, a wave pool, tube rides and lots of squirty toys!
If furry friends are more appealing, a visit to the town’s Teddy Bear Art Museum is a must. With 1,200 teddies housed in the Kirk Kristiansen’s former family home, it’s a lovely place to spend some time.
The Jutland peninsula around Billund has some beautiful scenery to explore and its great road links mean it’s easy to reach the second city of Aarhus, with its old timber houses, botanical garden and art and Viking museums.
It’s an easy city to walk about and has great vibe, mainly due to its beautiful architecture, including the cathedral with its 14th to 16th century frescoes and 39,000 young university students, who contribute to its trendy bars and restaurants.
Historic Koldinghus is home to Jutland’s last royal castle, which suffered a catastrophic fire in 1808 and has been lovingly restored, with impressive joinery, giving it a modern feel blending in with its ancient surroundings.
It’s town of Kolding has a really nice feel about it too and at the heart of it by the river is the country’s number one water park at SlotssøBadet. For a relaxing time away from the children, Queen Dorothea’s spa is a fabulous underground vault of luxury, with plunge pools, mineral and steam baths and an outdoor jacuzzi and for some serious pampering, there are also lots of treatments available to soothe away the stresses.
Close by is the Trapholt Art Museum, full of modern, quirky pieces which really encourage thinking out of the box and some very fascinating exhibitions, which are a joy to look around.
Excellent day trips include the fabulous Givskud Zoo, which has been really well thought out, allowing visitors to either see the animals via car safari or on foot. With plenty of land to house everything from giraffes to penguins, there is also a great dinosaur exhibition too and well equipped picnic eating areas.
Fact Box:
Low cost airlines fly to Billund in Denmark from most UK airports. Airport parking is available via www.holidayextras.com.
Additional tourist information can be found at www.visitdenmark.com as well as all the latest tips and itinerary ideas on what to see and do in Denmark.
Author Bio:
Rebecca Hay is an experienced travel writer and member of The British Guild of Travel Writers. Follow her adventures with her family on Twitter and Instagram @emojiadventurer and on Facebook via EmojiAdventurers2
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