Anyone who grew up on Andersen’s fairy tales surely knows the story of the Little Mermaid. For the younger ones, there is also the famous Disney movie with slightly changed content about a mermaid, who is ready to sacrifice everything for love…
Carl Jakobsen, the famous owner of the Carlsberg brewery was enchanted by this story after watching a ballet performance based on this fairy tale. He ordered a sculpture of a mermaid to be made, sitting on a rock and waiting for her prince.
Edward Eriksen was in charge of the performance, and the sculpture was inspired by the ballerina Ellen Price, who played the leading role in this ballet in 1909. However, she did not want to pose naked, so Eriksen’s own wife Elena served as a model.
This is how this famous sculpture was created, which over the years has become a trademark of Denmark. It is visited annually by thousands and thousands of tourists.
The sculpture was reviled on August 23, 1913, and since then it has been the target of vandals several times. Twice she lost her head, once she was doused with paint and so on. Since then, there has been a story that this sculpture is not an original but a copy, but that does not diminish its popularity.
What surprises everyone is that the bronze and granite sculpture is very small. She is 1.25m tall, but her story is very powerful. In the Disney version, she gave up her voice but found her prince. Hans Christian ended his fairy tale with the prince marrying someone else, which meant that the little mermaid would turn into sea foam, from which she could only return after 300 years.
Whether you are interested in fairy tales or not, The Little Mermaid is located on the Llangelin Peninsula in a very beautiful setting so that the walk there is pleasant for all walkers.
The cobblestones, which do not forgive anyone, are waiting for us wheelers.
In any case, I’m glad that I managed to break through the hordes of tourists and jump into this fairy tale.
That’s why it’s best to get to the mermaid early in the morning or late in the afternoon if you want it all to yourself.
The Little Mermaid is very close to other attractions such as the Amalienborg complex or the Marble Church, so you can see a lot in a short time.
Geffion
In addition to the mermaid on this road, you will also come across the spectacular Gefion fountain, which is a real refreshment.
The fountain is represented by a group of animals, presided over by the goddess of the North, Gefion. According to legend, the Swedish king Gylfe offered the goddess Gefion to take as much land as she could plow in one day and one night.
Without hesitation, she turned her sons into four powerful bulls, which helped her occupy as much land as possible. They were very successful in this, so that one part of the land was drawn to the sea. Legend has it that this is how the Zealand peninsula was created.
The fountain was discovered in 1908 and is one of the largest monuments in Copenhagen. It was commissioned by the Carlsberg Foundation in 1897 as a gift to the city on the occasion of their fiftieth anniversary. Sculptor Anders Bundgaard took more than seven years to complete it, and the preparations for installation took an additional four years for the fountain to shine in its full glory in 1908.
Since then, it has gone through numerous renovations, and today it also serves as a wishing well.
Church
Next to the fountain is a small Anglican church built in 1887 in the Gothic style.
Arthur Blomfield is the author, who made numerous similar buildings in England. During the 19th century the English community in Denmark grew and there was a need to build a church as a more permanent solution because until then masses were held in a rented warehouse on Konges Nytorv. The community could not do it alone, so a request was sent to the then Prince of Wales and his wife, who was born a Danish princess.
Princess Alexandra accepted this task and the church was soon built.
Many things in the church were donated. There are 15 bells on the tower that ring every quarter of an hour.
The very cream of European nobility was present at the opening, such as: the Emperor and Empress of Russia, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the royal couple of Denmark, Greece and others. the diplomatic corps, representatives of all religions, while the Prince of Wales treated to lunch all those who were directly involved in the construction of this religious building.
Today, the church is under the patronage of the English royal family and is in very good condition. If you get a chance, visit it.
Although English is not a problem, those who entered were given an explanation in, believe it or not, Serbian.
The church is not accessible for people in wheelchairs, but I forgive them for this kind of hospitality.
Conclusion
And so I visited some more sights of Copenhagen. Since all of this is located in a part of the city by the water in carefully tended greenery, it may be best to visit this part of the city when you arrive on the first day, while you are still shaken by jet lag.
The sea air, countless benches, refreshing fountain are the real cure for these ailments. In addition, you are not limited by time, so just indulge in taking pictures and enjoying the water, which is what I did.
Have you visited the Little Mermaid?
Did I miss something?
Traveled and enjoyed,
Marko Velickovic
