Sunday, September 09, 2007
Friday 17th August
We head off into the city of Copenhagen and we spend a rather fretful day wondering around looking at the beautiful buildings. The city feels like a cross between London and Amsterdam with grand historic buildings, new architecture, canal and bicycles.
Sunday 19th August
We wanted to go to the Lejre Research Centre, where there are active Stone Age, Iron Age and Viking Age settlements with traditional crafts and work carried out during this era. This weekend they had a special archery contest. As we arrived we were directed into a makeshift car park and we joined the queue of people to enter through the gates. This advertising was big on bringing your own picnic, as we looked around at the people we thought we were under prepared as they had sack trucks loaded with folding chairs and tables and large picnic baskets. We could also hear musicians tuning up their instruments. Things were starting to look a bit unusual and we managed to collar a security guard who explained that we were in the queue for a concert only available to ticket holders and that the visitors centre was closed.
With our day’s activities cancelled we visited the Frederiksborg Castle dating from 1560 it is boasted as being the most elaborate slot (castle) in Scandinavia. It is built from red bricks and has a copper roof, resplendent with large golden balls on the Tower. To start with we walked over the moat along a cobbled bridge and entered into the main courtyard where we were greeted with an ornate and elaborate fountain, dragon drainpipes and carved statues. The castle houses a national history museum, the rooms are exquisitely decorated and the great hall is truly marvellous and we were lucky to hear some musicians practising.
We head off into the city of Copenhagen and we spend a rather fretful day wondering around looking at the beautiful buildings. The city feels like a cross between London and Amsterdam with grand historic buildings, new architecture, canal and bicycles.
Sunday 19th August
We wanted to go to the Lejre Research Centre, where there are active Stone Age, Iron Age and Viking Age settlements with traditional crafts and work carried out during this era. This weekend they had a special archery contest. As we arrived we were directed into a makeshift car park and we joined the queue of people to enter through the gates. This advertising was big on bringing your own picnic, as we looked around at the people we thought we were under prepared as they had sack trucks loaded with folding chairs and tables and large picnic baskets. We could also hear musicians tuning up their instruments. Things were starting to look a bit unusual and we managed to collar a security guard who explained that we were in the queue for a concert only available to ticket holders and that the visitors centre was closed.
With our day’s activities cancelled we visited the Frederiksborg Castle dating from 1560 it is boasted as being the most elaborate slot (castle) in Scandinavia. It is built from red bricks and has a copper roof, resplendent with large golden balls on the Tower. To start with we walked over the moat along a cobbled bridge and entered into the main courtyard where we were greeted with an ornate and elaborate fountain, dragon drainpipes and carved statues. The castle houses a national history museum, the rooms are exquisitely decorated and the great hall is truly marvellous and we were lucky to hear some musicians practising.
