DENMARK LAND OF VIKINGS AND FAIRY TALES FROM DALIANES WORLDWIDE TRAVEL

Come join us for a grand tour of Denmark to see many of its fascinating sights. We will encounter ancient castles where the dynamic kings lived and ruled. Denmark is steeped with Viking ruins and we will visit many of these as the days of old come alive. Although it is a small country, there is a large amount to see and discover. Diane Jenkins will be our guide throughout the tour. She has toured Denmark several times and she will graciously introduce us to her ancestral country. Dianne Harris will also be along as your escort.

Dianne Harris
Co-Owner of Dalianes Travel

July 7

Depart San Francisco for Copenhagen

July 8

Afternoon	Arrive in Copenhagen
	Tour of some of the highlights of Copenhagen
Evening	Axel Hotel
	Dinner at Copenhagen Corner

We’ll walk to the Radhuspladsen (town hall square), part of the Stroget (Europe's longest pedestrian mall), Slotsholmen with its many sights including Christiansborg Slot (castle) Parliament, museums, the Dutch Renaissance Borson (or old stock exchange) with its spire consisting of 4 entwined dragon tails, etc. From there we will head back to our hotel past the National Museum, Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket (art museum containing one of the world’s foremost displays of Egyptian, Greek, Roman, & Etruscan art as well as works by Gauguin, Monet, Van Gogh, and sculptures by Rodin). Across the street is the famous Tivoli amusement park from 1843 which inspired Walt Disney to create his own amusement park From there we will be almost back to our hotel.
Dinner

July 9

Morning	Breakfast at the hotel
	Continuation of "get acquainted" tour
Lunch	At leisure
Afternoon	Free time
Evening	Axel Hotel
	Dinner at restaurant of choice

This morning will be a continuation of our exploration of Copenhagen. We’ll walk the Stroget from the Radhuspladsen to Kongens Nytorv, Nyhavn, Amalienborg (royal family's residence), and along the canal to Churchill Park, the Gefion Fountain, and the Little Mermaid. On our way back we will see the lavishly furnished fairytale castle, Rosenborg Slot (built 1605-1624) which contains the crown jewels, silver furniture, etc. The Botanical Gardens are across the street. The afternoon is free time for you to go back and spend more time at whatever interests you. You might want to explore, visit museums of your choice (Wednesday is free admission at some museums), shop, take a canal boat excursion, etc.
Breakfast

July 10

Morning	Breakfast at the hotel
	Explore Slotsholmen (Optional)
Lunch	At leisure
Afternoon	University district with Rundetarn (round tower) (Optional)
Evening	Axel Hotel
	Dinner at restaurant of choice

Today you will be on your own to explore Copenhagen

- OR -

Diane will escort the following tour of Copenhagen:

This morning we will go back to Slotsholmen (the heart of Copenhagen's power for more than 800 years) and spend some more time seeing the sights in and around there. In the afternoon we will wander over to the old University District where we will see the 16th century Rundetarn (or Round Tower) observatory built for King Christian IV (the architect King responsible for much of Copenhagen’s buildings) and other sites in the area. The observatory is still in use and you may walk up to the top for a great view. There should be free time in the afternoon to do as you please -- possibly walk over to Christianshavn and if you feel adventurous, climb up the outside spiral of Vor Frelsers Kirke.
Breakfast

Morning	Depart Copenhagen for Helsingor & Kronborg Slot
Lunch	At leisure in Helsingor
Afternoon	Fredericksborg Slot
Evening	Dragsholm Slot
	Dinner at the Castle

We will drive north from Copenhagen along the Strandvejen -- the Danish Riviera -- on our way to Helsingor and Kronborg Slot (Shakespeare’s Hamlet’s Castle). Helsingor is noted for its well-preserved medieval quarter with timbered houses, 15th century Carmelite Monastery, and on Friday mornings the town has an open market in the town square (the Axeltorv). In the afternoon we will travel southwest to the town of Hillerod and Denmark’s National History Museum in the fairy tale castle of Frederiksborg Slot with its beautiful baroque gardens and its beautiful chapel built in the mid 1600’s. We will then head west to the 12th & 13th century Dragsholm Castle—our home for the night.
Breakfast, Dinner

July 12

Morning	Depart Dragsholm for Roskilde
Lunch	At leisure in Roskilde
Afternoon	Ringsted and on to Odense
	Visit Den Fynske Landsby
Evening	City Hotel in Odense
	Dinner at Den Gamle Kro

Roskilde founded in the 10th century by the Vikings is the home of the 12th century Domkirke where most of the Viking monarchs are entombed and of the Viking Ship Museum (Vikingskibmuseet). After lunch in Roskilde, we will go south to the old market town of Ringsted which was once one of the most important towns in Denmark and the venue for regional government assemblies—the landsting. We will see the three stones standing in the market square which were used hundreds of years ago by the landsting. The biggest attraction in Ringsted is Sankt Bendts Kirke (St. Benedict’s Church) from 1170 -- the oldest brick church in Scandinavia. It is dedicated to and is the burial place for all Danish kings who bear the name Valdemar. Don’t miss the 17th century altarpiece, the 12th century baptismal font, or the 14th century frescoes. From Ringsted we will go west to cross the 12 mile long Store Baelt Bridge to the island of Fyn (Funen) and on to Odense, Denmark’s 3rd largest city, the home of Hans Christian Andersen and our home for the next three nights.
Breakfast, Dinner

July 13

Morning	Breakfast at the hotel
	Walking tour of Odense
Lunch	At leisure in Odense
Afternoon	Visit Den Fynske Landsby
Evening	City Hotel in Odense
	Dinner at restaurant of choice

We will visit the home and museum of Hans Christian Andersen and wander through the winding streets of one of the oldest cities in Denmark, Odense. Most of its attractions are within the boundaries of the medieval district with many half timbered buildings. Skt. Knuds Kirke named after King Knud II who ruled Denmark from 1080-86 was murdered in Odense and became a saint. If you desire, you can see his skeleton in a glass display case in the basement of the kirke. Den Fynske Landsby on the south edge of Odense is a reconstructed village containing about 20 old 19th century farm buildings from different areas of the island of Fyn with homes, a vicarage, school room, workshops, a windmill, and water mill.
Breakfast

Morning	Breakfast at the hotel
	Tour of southern Fyn through Brahetrolleborg, Faaborg, Valdemar’s Slot
Lunch	Svendborg
Afternoon	Continue tour of southern Fyn through Svendborg and Egeskov Slot
Evening	City Hotel in Odense
	Dinner at restaurant of choice

Today we will board our coach for a journey to southern Fyn which will take us through the rich farmlands to Brahetrolleborg, once a Cistercian abbey and later a baronial castle of the Reventlow family. Attached to the privately owned & occupied castle is the kirke which has a beautiful baptismal font sculpted by Bertel Thorvaldsen. It is typical of many parish churches in Denmark. We will continue on through Korinth and down from the national park Svanninge Bakker (hills) into the picturesque old market town of Faaborg on the edge of the Baltic. If our timing is right, we may hear Faaborg’s carillon chime out a hymn which it does four times a day. It is the largest carillon in Europe & the town's main landmark. Heading east from Faaborg we will come to the beautiful market town of Svendborg on the southeast corner of Fyn and then on across the bridge to the island of Tasinge to visit Valdemars Slot built by Christian IV for his son Valdemar in 1644. Valdemar died in battle in 1656 and the king gave the castle to Admiral Niels Juel in recognition of his successful defense of Copenhagen at the Battle of Koge. It has remained in the the hands of the Juel family ever since. After lunch where we will be joined by a Danish family, we will go north to the magnificent Egeskov Slot built in the mid-16th century & surrounded by beautiful gardens including a labyrinth or maze.
Breakfast

July 15

Morning	Breakfast at the hotel
	Depart Odense for Ribe
Lunch	At leisure in Ribe
Afternoon	Tour Ribe
Evening	Hotel Dagmar in Ribe (16th Century, Denmark’s oldest hotel)
	Dinner at Hotel Dagmar

We will board the coach to travel from Odense crossing the Lille Baelt bridge to Jutland and across Jutland to Ribe, the oldest town in Denmark. The houses, courtyards, and inns are much as they were hundreds of years ago with 560 buildings included in a municipal preservation project. Ribe began as a Viking settlement in the 9th century and was a major seaport. It has two Viking museums and the Domkirke (cathedral) which dates from 1150 & stands on the site of one of Denmark’s earliest wooden churches from around 860. You can climb the 234 steps to the top of the tower if you desire. As we explore the town, you will want to watch for the stork’s nest on a roof! In the evening, we will be treated to the Middle Ages tradition of the night watchman walking through town singing the traditional songs that told the people they could sleep soundly.
Breakfast, Dinner

July 16

Morning	Breakfast at hotel
	Depart Ribe for Silkeborg
	Visit Silkeborg Museum
Lunch	At leisure either in Silkeborg or Hobro
Afternoon	Tour Fyrkat
Evening	Dronninglund Hotel in Dronninglund
	Dinner at Dronninglund Hotel

Today we will head north into the hills of the Lake District to the city of Silkeborg to visit the Silkeborg Museum & more specifically the Tollund Man who was hung and thrown into a bog 2,200 years ago. He was so well preserved when discovered by two farmers in 1950 that it was believed he was the victim of a modern day crime. He is one of many "bog people" found throughout the country.

In the afternoon we will visit Fyrkat, one of four Viking fortifications built about 980 AD where we will see the old fortification walls, a reconstructed longhouse, and a Viking style farmstead which recreates aspects of Viking life. For the next 2 nights we will be staying at the Dronninglund Hotel in Dronninglund north of the city of Aalborg.
Breakfast, Dinner

Morning	Breakfast at hotel
	Skagen & Grenen
Lunch	At leisure in Skagen
Afternoon	Northern Jutland including Den Tilsandede Kirke
Evening	Dronninglund Hotel
	Dinner at Dronninglund Hotel

This day will take us to the northern tip of Jutland at Grenen where we can put one foot in the cold waters from the North Sea, the Skagerrak, and the other in the colder waters from the Baltic, the Kattegat. Skagen became an art community in the last half of the 19th century because of its “Nordic Light,” clarity of the air, changing seas on both sides, and white sands. Den Tilsandede Kirke or “sand covered church” has been slowly getting covered with sand since the 18th century so that only the steeple is visible.
Breakfast, Dinner

July 18

Morning	Breakfast at hotel
	Tour Lindholm Hoje
Lunch	At leisure in Ebeltoft
Afternoon	Tour Ebeltoft and the Fregatten Jylland
	Tour Mols Bjerge
Evening	Hotel Ry Park in Silkeborg
	Dinner at Ry Park Hotel

Our morning will start with a visit to Lindholm Hoje, Denmark’s largest Iron Age and Viking cemetery which has survived due to a 13 ft. layer of sand that blew over it & kept it covered until 1952 when archeologists unearthed nearly 700 graves of various shapes. There are also traces of houses & hearths from between the 7th and 11th centuries which indicate this was a trading settlement. We will then go southeast to the 700 yr. old town of Ebeltoft which has the smallest radhus in Denmark. The cobbled streets are lined with half-timbered houses and a kirke which dates to 1301. A big attraction in Ebeltoft is the Fregatten Jylland, the last of the oak battleships. It has been restored and is open for tours (optional). Nearby is Mols Bjerge with its cairns and grave mounds from prehistoric times scattered over the rolling hills. The most impressive relic is Posekjaer Stenhus (Denmark’s Stonehenge). From there we can follow a trail to Tinghulen (The Court Hole) which is an 80 ft. crevasse caused by a huge lump of ice trapped below the surface as the ice age came to an end. Because of its sharp acoustics, it was used as a "court room" until the late 17th century. A trail from here passes through heather covered hills & forest to the Bronze Age burial mounds of Trehoje.
Breakfast, Dinner

July 19

Morning	Breakfast at hotel
	Depart for Jelling, Vejle
Lunch:	At leisure in Vejle
Afternoon	Ladbyskibit
	Return to Copenhagen
Evening	Guldsmeden Axel in Copenhagen
	Tivoli
	Farewell Dinner at Café Ketchup in Tivoli

Jelling served as the royal seat of King Gorm the Old whose dynasty has ruled continuously to today making it the oldest ruling family. Jelling Kirke built about 1100 has large burial mounds on either side and is the site which was occupied by at least three earlier wooden churches. When King Gorm’s Queen Tyra died, he had the first large runic stone erected in her honor which refers to her as the glory or savior of Denmark—said to be the first written record of the name Denmark. When Gorm died about 950, the second stone was erected by their son, King Harald Bluetooth, in honor of his parents. This stone is referred to as Denmark’s baptismal certificate because it refers to Harald as being Christian and has a picture of Christ said to be the oldest known figure of Christ in Scandinavia. King Gorm has been reburied in front of the altar in the church. This complex has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vejle is a harbor town east of Jelling. Its main attraction is Skt. Nicolai Kirke. Near Ladby, we will go down into a burial mound to see a 1,000 year old Viking chieftain’s burial ship. (The chieftain’s bones are not there and it is assumed they were removed & given a Christian burial at a later date.) We will go back across the Store Baelt to Copenhagen for our last night in Denmark and our farewell evening at Tivoli with dinner at Cafe Ketchup.
Breakfast, Dinner

Daily Itinerary
Day 1	Day 2	Day 3
Day 4	Day 5	Day 6
Day 7	Day 8	Day 9
Day 10	Day 11	Day 12
Day 13	Day 14