NORTH OF COPENHAGEN RUNGSTED – VEDBÆK If you head up the coast north of Copenhagen, you will experience Denmark’s most affluent areas with beautiful coastal stretches and sandy beaches lined with magnifi- cent villas overlooking the strait to Sweden. With its popu- lar beaches, first-class inns, and active nightlife, many call it the “Danish Riviera.” is situated by the coast of Øresund and is the house in which famous author, , was born. Her childhood home is open to the public, and the

Karen Blixen Museet. Photo: Anne Mette Kuhlmann Mette Anne Photo: Museet. Blixen Karen rooms are left as Karen Blixen decorated and arranged them, giving a vivid impression of the writer's day-to-day surroundings. Behind the house itself there is 40 acres of land – garden, meadow and grove. In accordance with Karen Blixen's wishes, the area is preserved as a bird sanctuary. Further up the coast, you will find the Louisiana Mu- seum of Modern Art with a panoramic view of Øresund. The museum – one of the world’s finest – frames the in- teraction between art, nature and architecture in quite a unique way.

Kronborg. Photo: Thomas Rahbek Thomas Photo: . Seek inland and explore the fertile North , which reveals idyllic landscapes mixed with impressive forests and large lakes. Danish monarchs shared a love for North Zealand, an enticing destination and a favourite hunting ground. In fact, there is no other area in Denmark where royal castles and palaces have been built so close togeth- er. Any self-respecting Danish monarch built a castle as evidence of royal power, honour and wealth. The castles were used as royal residences and official state venues for wedding receptions, and occasionally, as secret love Photo: Colourbox Photo: nests. was built by King Christian IV around 1600 and is an impressive mix of a manor and a hunting castle with a towering spire and secret trapdoor entrances. The castle is built on three islands, which are connected by bridges. Today, it is a national histori- cal museum, containing treasures of painting, tapestry, ­porcelain, silver and furniture. Palace is located in the middle of a lovely park, bordering the idyllic Esrum Lake and is the royal ­family’s vacation residence. Kronborg Castle, which is on the UNESCO world heri­ tage list, was chosen as the setting for Shakespeare's “Hamlet”. The castle is a magnificent castle located by the water in beautiful, old Helsingør. From here, you can catch a 20-minute ferry to Sweden.

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