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100-420: The main town and the site of its municipal council is the city of Odense . Including the social sector, 17,000 people are employed by the municipality. The municipal budget is 6,881 million DKK as of 2006. The municipality runs 37 schools; Odense is also the home of 13 private schools. Neighboring municipalities are Kerteminde to the east, Faaborg-Midtfyn to the south, Assens to the west, and Nordfyn to

200-519: A building for the Odd Fellow lodge was constructed on the site during the late nineteenth century. Odense is the see of the bishop of Funen . Saint Canute's Cathedral ( Danish : Sankt Knuds Kirke ) was formerly connected with the great Benedictine monastery of the same name, and is one of the largest and finest buildings of its kind in Denmark. Originally dating from 1081 to 1093,

300-515: A centre of commerce in the Middle Ages . After a period of decline, large-scale plans for development were made during the 18th century, which led to the rebuilding of Odense Palace and the building of a canal to the Port of Odense , facilitating trade. In 1865, one of the largest railway terminals in Denmark was built, further increasing the population and commerce, and by 1900, Odense had reached

400-514: A city of stature in Denmark. Canute IV of Denmark , generally considered to be the last Viking king, was murdered by unruly peasants, discontent with the high taxes he imposed on the town, in Odense's St Alban's Priory on 10 July 1086. He was canonized in 1100. The priory no longer exists, although a church has been situated on the site since about 900. At the beginning of the 12th century, Benedictine monks from England founded St Canute's Abbey. It

500-409: A cultural hub, with the establishment of a university in 1966 and the launching of trade shows, including the large Odense Congress Centre. In 1988 a major national television network, TV2 , was established in Odense. In celebration of the thousandth anniversary in 1988, a forest, Tusindårsskoven (meaning "The Thousand Year Forest") was planted. In 2005 the city celebrated the 200th anniversary of

600-582: A highly ambitious king as well as a devout one. He enhanced the authority of the church, and demanded austere observation of church holidays. He gave large gifts to the churches in Dalby , Odense , Roskilde , and Viborg , and especially to Lund . Ever a champion of the Church, he sought to enforce the collection of tithes . His aggrandizement of the church served to create a powerful ally, who in turn supported Canute's power position. In May 1085, Canute wrote

700-504: A letter of donation to Lund Cathedral , which was under construction, granting it large tracts of land in Scania , Zealand , and Amager . He founded Lund Cathedral School at the same time. Canute had gathered the land largely as pay for the pardon of outlawed subjects. The clerics at Lund got extended prerogatives of the land, being able to tax and fine the peasantry there. However, Canute kept his universal royal rights to pardon

800-675: A member of the Social Democrats. Rahbæk Juel succeeded Boye as announced and continues to serve as mayor after the municipal elections in November 2017. Odense is Funen's most important industrial and commercial centre, and the city's central location in Denmark makes it one of the national convention and congress centres. Enterprises include the Albani Brewery , ABB (Asea Brown Boveri) , Kansas Workwear (clothing), Plus Pack (canning and containers) as well as manufacturers in

900-428: A number of his musical scores, including six symphonies, three concertos, two operas, and chamber music and numerous songs. The Møntergården cultural history museum of Odense is one of the most notable remaining Renaissance buildings of the city, built in 1646 by the nobleman Falk Gøye . It has many artefacts related to the early Viking history in Odense, and is named after the narrow street Møntestræde adjacent to

1000-527: A number of settlements from the bronze age . The municipality is connected with all points on the island with an extensive system of roads, including the major E20 Funish Motorway ( Fynske Motorvej ) which runs across the island through the town of Odense and connect the island on the east to the island of Zealand over the Great Belt Bridge and on the west to the Danish mainland, Jutland over

1100-520: A park, the King's Garden was constructed to a French design by Johan Cornelius Krieger . Odense Teater , first established in 1796, is Denmark's second oldest theatrical enterprise and one of the country's three main theatres. The original building was on Sortebrødre Torv was used until 1914 when a new building designed by Jacobsen was opened on Jernbanegade. It has three stages: Store Scene , Værkstedet , and Foyerscenen . The theatre also has stages in

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1200-477: A population of 166,305 people. As of 2017 it had a population of 176,683. Odense Municipality is the administrative unit which covers not only the city of Odense but surrounding suburbs and villages. Odense City Council consists of 29 members, including a mayor. The former mayor of Odense, Anker Boye , is a member of the Social Democratic Party . His first term was from 1993 to 2005 when he

1300-518: A population of 35,000. Odense's Odinstårnet was one of the tallest towers in Europe when built in 1935 but was destroyed by the Nazis during World War II . The University of Southern Denmark was established in 1966. In the present day, Odense remains the commercial hub of Funen , and has a notable shopping district with a diversity of stores. Several major industries are located in the city including

1400-519: A result of his vigorous tithe policy. The document of his donation to Lund Cathedral was the oldest comprehensive text from Denmark, and provided broad insights into Danish post- Viking Age society. The donation might have had the aim of establishing the Danish Archdiocese of Lund according to Sweyn II Estridsson's wishes, which was finally achieved in 1104. Canute's son Carl became Count of Flanders from 1119 to 1127, ruling as Charles

1500-416: A saw-tooth course. It stands on the site of a smaller building from 1480. In 1937 Bent Helveg-Møller won the competition for the building's enlargement. The tower over the main entrance was torn down in 1942 but was not rebuilt. As work was delayed during the war, the extension was not completed until 1955. In conjunction with Hans Christian Andersen's 200th anniversary in 2005, comprehensive renovation work

1600-436: A slender build. It also specified his cause of death as a thrust to the sacrum through the abdomen , negating Ælnoth's account. He had no injuries indicating he fought against multiple enemies, which can be seen as supporting an account saying he faced his death without a struggle. In parts of Spain, Canute's feast day has reportedly become a tongue-in-cheek "holiday" for the marijuana legalization movement, appropriating

1700-544: A time when it was developing as a university city after Odense University was established in 1966. Residents began to move out of the centre into the suburban areas which were included in Odense Municipality after boundaries were redefined in 1970. As a result, the population declined slightly in the 1970s and 1980s, falling to 136,646 in 1981. It began climbing again in the late 1980s, and steadily grew to 144,518 in 1996 and 145,554 in 2004. In 2010 Odense had

1800-616: Is Peter Rahbæk Juel  [ dk ] , representing the Social Democrats , since 1 January 2018. The former mayor of Odense Municipality, Anker Boye , is a member of the Social Democratic Party . His first term was from 1993 to 2005 when he was defeated by Jan Boye , a Conservative . He was re-elected in the 2009 election, forming a coalition with the Red–Green Alliance , the Socialist People's Party and

1900-603: Is Facebook's third outside the United States. It started operating in September 2019, although only partially. According to Fyens Stiftstidende , Facebook is ready to extend it with a third server building, and is considering adding two more. A number of robotics firms are in Tietgenbyen, including Universal Robots , Jorgensen Engineering , and ABB . Archeological excavations prior to building Tietgenbyen found

2000-407: Is also of note. Established in 2005, it signs on a new director each year who is charged with creating the "volume" of the year with a set of plays and performers. It also puts on other cultural entertainment including concerts, debates, lectures and poetry. Odense Symphony Orchestra (Odense Symfoniorkester), one of Denmark's five regional orchestras, was formally established in 1946. The orchestra

2100-600: Is based in Odense Concert Hall, which was inaugurated in 1982. Most of the orchestra’s concerts are given in the Carl Nielsen Hall, a seating capacity of 1,212 and a large 46-stops organ built by Marcussen & Son . First established in 1948, Funen Opera ( Den Fynske Opera ) was reopened in 1996 after a period of closure. It specializes in presenting contemporary operas in Danish. Remembered above all for his fairy tales , Hans Christian Andersen

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2200-411: Is common for Odense Fjord to contain ice between January and March, and the entrance is kept clear by icebreakers. The tidal range in the fjord varies up to 0.6 metres (2 ft 0 in), and winds from the west and northeast may raise the water level by up to 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) and winds from the east and southwest may lower it by up to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in). Climate data for

2300-476: Is connected by canal to the Port of Odense. The small fishing village of Bregnør lies 2.3 miles (3.7 km) to the southeast of the passage. A controlling depth of 11 metres (36 ft) is reported in the northern part of channel between the entrance to the fjord and Lindo Terminal Quay. The bight of Fyns Hoved to the northeast of the harbour curves south to form the approach to Odense Fjord. The eastern side of

2400-655: Is low-lying, the highest point of Østerhoved only reaching six metres above the sea. There is a 25 hectare forest on the northern part of the island while the southern part consists of coastal meadows . Odense has a temperate oceanic climate , classified as Köppen zone Cfb . Mild summers feature average maximum temperatures exceeding 20 °C (68 °F), while winters are characterised by minimum temperatures dropping just below freezing. The hottest months on average are July and August with highs of 21 °C (70 °F) and daily mean temperatures of 17 °C (63 °F) and 16 °C (61 °F) respectively. These are also

2500-433: Is on Munkemøllestræde not far from the cathedral. He lived in the little half-timbered house from the age of two until he was 14. Opened as a museum in 1930, the house contains an exhibition of the cobbling tools used by his father and other items based on Andersen's own descriptions. Throughout the city there are numerous statues and sculptures representing characters from the stories of Hans Christian Andersen. They include

2600-579: Is one of Denmark's oldest cities. Archaeological excavations in the vicinity show proof of settlement for over 4,000 years since at least the Stone Age . The earliest community was centred on the higher ground between the Odense River to the south and Naesbyhoved Lake (now dry) to the north. Nonnebakken , one of Denmark's former Viking ring fortresses , lay to the south of the river. Today, Odense's Møntergården Museum has many artefacts related to

2700-643: Is privately owned, and just be bought by the municipality before it can be used industrially. Tietgenbyen contains a data center owned by Facebook , with an area of 56,500 square meters. A district heating system is established in connection with the data center, distributing surplus heat to 7,000 houses (planned to be extended to 12,000 houses). Plans to build the data center were first revealed by Fyens Stiftstidene in October 2016, and confirmed by Facebook and Odense municipality in January 2017. The data center

2800-439: Is situated in the northeastern centre of the island of Funen. By road, Odense is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Svendborg , 144 kilometres (89 mi) to the south of Aarhus, 167 kilometres (104 mi) to the southwest of Copenhagen, 136 kilometres (85 mi) east of Esbjerg and 69 kilometres (43 mi) southeast of Kolding . Suburbs of Odense include Stige to the north, Seden , Bullerup and Agedrup to

2900-477: Is the largest in Denmark with 140,000 m (1,500,000 sq ft) floor space and more than 150 shops as well as restaurants, a cinema and a fitness centre. A wide variety of shops can be found in the city centre, especially on Kongensgade and Vestergade and adjacent pedestrian streets. Tourism is an important source of income for the city. In 2008 Odense Municipality was listed seventh in Denmark for turnover on tourism, reaching 1.6 million Danish kroner for

3000-582: Is the site of one of Denmark's six former Viking ring castles , built during the reign of Sweyn Forkbeard , who had forced his father Harold Bluetooth to leave the country and seek refuge by the Jomsvikings in Wollin (modern Poland) in around 975. The fort provided its occupier the command of the Odense River passing next to the hill. The archaeological remains of the fort were heavily damaged when

3100-406: Is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus ) and the largest city on the island of Funen . As of 1 January 2024, the city proper had a population of 183,763 while Odense Municipality had a population of 209,078, making it the fourth largest municipality in Denmark (behind Copenhagen , Aarhus and Aalborg municipalities). Eurostat and OECD have used a definition for

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3200-668: The Albani Brewery and GASA , Denmark's major dealer in vegetables, fruits and flowers. The city is home to Odense Palace, erected by King Frederik IV who died there in 1730, the Odense Theatre , the Odense Symphony Orchestra , and the Hans Christian Andersen Museum , situated in the house that was the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. In sports, Odense has a number of football clubs including OB , BM , B1909 , and B1913 ,

3300-510: The Little Belt Bridge . A motorway built 2006-2009 connects Odense to the island's second-largest city, Svendborg , which also has a railroad connection ( Svendborgbanen ). The town of Odense is also a major stop on the national railroad system lines. Odense Odense ( / ˈ oʊ d ən s ə / OH -dən-sə , US also / ˈ oʊ θ ən s ə / OH -thən-sə , Danish: [ˈoðˀn̩sə] )

3400-519: The Metropolitan area of Odense (referred to as a Functional urban area ), which includes all municipalities in the Province (Danish: landsdel ) of Funen (Danish: Fyn ), with a total population of 504,066 as of 1 July 2022. By road, Odense is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) north of Svendborg , 144 kilometres (89 mi) to the south of Aarhus and 167 kilometres (104 mi) to

3500-592: The Odense Bulldogs professional ice hockey team, and the city also hosts the H.C. Andersen Marathon . Odense is served by Hans Christian Andersen Airport and Odense station , which lies on the line between Copenhagen and the Jutland peninsula. The name Odense is derived from Odins vé , meaning "Odin's sanctuary", as the area was known as a sanctuary for worshippers of the Nordic god , Odin . Odense

3600-478: The Odense City Museums , a department of the municipal government. Funen's Art Museum (Fyns Kunstmuseum), formerly The Museum of Funen Diocese, is one of Denmark's oldest art museums, dating to 1885. It contains the principal works by Jens Juel , Dankvart Dreyer , P.S. Krøyer and H. A. Brendekilde . The open-air The Funen Village museum ( Den Fynske Landsby ) tries to emulate what country life

3700-751: The Radisson SAS HC Andersen Hotel , the First Hotel Grand with its brasserie bar, the 68-room Old English-style Clarion Collection Hotel Plaza, City Hotel, which is in close proximity to the Hans Christian Andersen museum, and the 140-room Danhostel Odense City. Odense has become an internationally recognized hub for robotics, particularly following the success of companies such as Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots (MiR). The city hosts numerous startups, leading academic institutions in robotics at

3800-463: The University of Southern Denmark , the national drone test center at Hans Christian Andersen Airport , and the national Danish cluster for the robot industry, Odense Robotics, with more than 300 robotics, drone and automation companies, employing nearly 20,000 people. Odense is especially known for its advancements in collaborative robots, or "co-bots." Nonnebakken , a hill in the Odense area,

3900-422: The flank . He was succeeded by Olaf as Olaf I of Denmark . Because of his martyrdom and advocacy of the Church, Canute quickly began to be considered a saint. Under the reign of Olaf, Denmark suffered from crop failure, which was seen as divine retribution for the sacrilegious killing of Canute. Miracles were soon reported as taking place at his grave, and his canonization was already being sought during

4000-412: The "coalition-municipality" of Fjordager (which had been created in 1966 by merging Agedrup and Seden-Åsum municipalities), and Højby parish. Odense municipality was not merged with other municipalities by 1 January 2007 as the result of the nationwide Kommunalreformen ("The Municipal Reform" of 2007) . Before this reform, the list of neighboring municipalities were Langeskov to the east, Munkebo to

4100-486: The 1840s, the city enjoyed a period of rapid expansion beyond its traditional boundaries, becoming Denmark's second largest city. The city gates were demolished in 1851 and soon afterwards development extended to the area south of the river. Glove production, which had begun in the 18th century, developed into one of the most important industries while the harbour facilities were further expanded. In 1853 Denmark's first modern water and gas works were opened in Odense. Commerce

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4200-692: The Good . Like his father, Charles was slain in a church by rebels (in Bruges , 1127), and later beatified by the Catholic church. According to Niels Lund, Lecturer in Medieval History at the University of Copenhagen , Canute's abortive invasion of England "marked the end of the Viking Age." In 2008, an X-ray computed tomography was taken of Canute, which showed that he was right-handed and of

4300-759: The Holy ( Danish : Knud IV den Hellige ) or Saint Canute ( Sankt Knud ), was King of Denmark from 1080 until 1086. Canute was an ambitious king who sought to strengthen the Danish monarchy , devotedly supported the Roman Catholic Church , and had designs on the English throne . Slain by rebels in 1086, he was the first Danish king to be canonized . He was recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as patron saint of Denmark in 1101. Canute

4400-410: The Odense area for over 4,000 years, although the name was not mentioned in writing until 988, and by 1070, it had already grown into a thriving city. Canute IV of Denmark , generally considered to be the last Viking king, was murdered by unruly peasants in Odense's St Alban's Priory on 10 July 1086. Although the city was burned in 1249 following a royal rivalry, it quickly recovered and flourished as

4500-497: The Roman Catholic Church and fought for justice without regard to his own person. He was never a thoroughly popular saint in Denmark, but his sainthood granted the Danish monarchy an aura of divine legitimacy . The cause of the rebellion which killed Canute is unknown, but has been speculated as originating in fines issued to the peasants breaking the leding of 1085 as specified in the Chronicon Roskildense , or as

4600-511: The Social Democrats. The following is a list of mayors since 1792: After the city of Odense itself, the next most populous locations in the Municipality are: The municipality of Odense is divided into 11 different sectors. Neighbourhoods, suburbs and surrounding villages of the city of Odense include: Odense is the third largest city in Denmark, and one of country's oldest settlements. The first record of its existence dates from 988 and

4700-1222: The Steadfast Tin Soldier, the Mermaid, the Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep, the Toad, the Darning Needle, the Emperor's New Clothes, the Sea Horse, the Paper Boat, the Flying Trunk and the Wild Swans. There is also a distinctive statue of Andersen in Eventyrparken (The Fairy Tale Park) beside the cathedral. Sculpted by Louis Hasselriis in 1888, it shows the storyteller with a book in his hand, ready to entertain onlookers with his fairy tales. The museums in Odense are mainly governed by

4800-541: The Turkish siege of the island of Rhodes . After the Danish Reformation , involving the suppression of the Catholic bishopric in 1536, the city enjoyed a sustained period of prosperity from the 1530s to the mid-17th century, becoming northern Funen's commercial centre. One of the main sources of income was the sale of cattle, providing substantial funds for the construction of fine half-timbered houses for

4900-632: The area where the original was located. During the German occupation in the Second World War , Odense's general strike in August 1943 contributed to terminating collaboration with the Germans. Until the beginning of the Danish industrial revolution, Odense was also the second-largest city in modern Denmark, but has in recent times been overtaken by Aarhus. From the 1960s Odense increasingly became

5000-552: The bight between Fyns Hoved and Skoven, 5.5 metres (18 ft) to the south, is irregular, with a beach and hills behind it, and to the south of the bight is the small, shallow Korshavn Bay , with the Korshavn Light in the vicinity. Skoven is a bare, rugged peninsula, with Dalby Bay (Dalby Bugt) to the east. In the southwestern part of the Odense Fjord are the islands of Vigelsø and the 21 hectare Tornø , although

5100-507: The birth of Hans Christian Andersen . The Odense Steel Shipyard ( Staalskibsvæeft ), which since 1996 had been Denmark's largest shipbuilding facility, closed in 2012 as a result of international competition. Opened in 1919 by A.P. Møller , it latterly produced container ships for Mærsk, the parent company. The Lindø site was sold to the Port of Odense ( Odense Havn ) who are developing the Lindø Industrial Park. Odense

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5200-588: The building, where a coin workshop once operated in around 1420. Located in a courtyard of half-timbered houses, the museum also has exhibits on Funen's ancient history, as well as Odense in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The Danish Railway Museum is the national railway museum of Denmark, the largest such museum in Scandinavia. It was established in 1975 in a former engine shed adjacent to

5300-640: The celebrations for the 200th anniversary of Hans Christian Andersen in 2005, above all for allegedly signing a contract with Tina Turner for a show which resulted in a deficit of 13 million kroner . In the 2013 municipal elections, Boye was successful in obtaining sufficient support from the Liberals and the left to ensure his continuation as mayor from the beginning of 2014. Boye announced in December 2016 that he would resign as mayor on 1 January 2017. The new mayor of Odense would be Peter Rahbæk Juel, also

5400-428: The church was rebuilt in the 13th century in brick in a pure Gothic style. Under the altar lies Canute (Danish: Knud ), the patron saint of Denmark and his brother on public display. A large fragment of Byzantine cloth is displayed next to the two skeletons. The cathedral also boasts one of Denmark's most remarkable altarpieces, a magnificent triptych by Claus Berg . Kings Jens and Christian II are buried in

5500-456: The city are recorded at Hans Christian Andersen Airport ( ICAO : EKOD). Odense has long been a populated town, and in 1670 it had a population of 3,808 people. By 1787 the population had grown to 5,363 to and 5,782 in 1801. The population grew markedly during the 19th century, reaching 8,709 inhabitants in 1834, 10,238 in 1845, 12,932 in 1855, 16,970 in 1870, 20,804 in 1880 and 30,268 in 1890. With improvements in communications by rail and via

5600-572: The city began to grow markedly; by 1900 it had 35,000 inhabitants. Odense's most famous landmark was Odinstårnet ( The Odin Tower ) constructed in 1935, as the second-tallest tower in Europe, only surpassed by the Eiffel Tower with its 177 meters. Odinstårnet was blown up by a Danish Nazi group in 1944 and has never been rebuilt. However, a miniature model now stands in Odinsparken in

5700-402: The city's main railway station and has an area of over 10,000 metres (33,000 ft), with some 50 locomotives and railway carriages on 20 rail tracks from all periods of Danish rail history. The oldest steam engine dates back to 1869. The Brandts Museum of Photographic Art (Museet for Fotokunst) in Odense is the only national Danish art museum dedicated specifically to photographic art . It

5800-560: The city. St Alban's Church , built in the Neogothic style and consecrated in 1908, is the Roman Catholic church of Odense. Its steeple is 54 m (177 ft) high. St Mary's Church ( Vor Frue Kirke or Our Lady's Church), built in the 13th century and restored in 1851–1852 and again in 1864, contains a carved 16th-century altarpiece by Claus Berg of Lübeck . St John's Church ( Sankt Hans Kirke ), first mentioned in 1295,

5900-691: The crown of England to be rightfully his and regarded William I of England as a usurper . In 1085, with the support of his father-in-law, Count Robert, and Olaf III of Norway , Canute planned an invasion of England and called his fleet in leding at the Limfjord . The fleet never set sail, as Canute was preoccupied in Schleswig by the potential threat of Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor with whom both Denmark and Flanders were on unfriendly terms. Canute feared an invasion by Henry, whose enemy Rudolf of Rheinfelden had sought refuge in Denmark. The warriors of

6000-483: The early Viking history in the Odense area. The Vikings built numerous fortifications along the river banks to defend it against invaders coming in from the coast. The city celebrated its thousandth anniversary in 1988, commemorating the first mention of the town's name in a letter dated 18 March 988 from the German emperor Otto III which granted rights to Odense and neighbouring settlements. The first church in Odense appears to have been St Mary's , probably built in

6100-421: The electrical sector such as Riegens / SG Lighting. In recent years there has been a general trend from manufacturing into the service sector. By 2002, 51% of the workforce was employed by the service sector while only 13% were working in industry. Lindø Wharf, once Denmark's largest shipbuilding facility, has now been converted into Lindø Industrial Park specialising in the production and storage of components for

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6200-523: The end of the First World War . The church was the work of Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint who went on to design Copenhagen's Grundtvig's Church . Odense's City Hall ( Odense Rådhus ), with its medieval Italian look, was designed by Johan Daniel Herholdt and Carl Lendorf in the Historicist style. Completed in 1883, it combines red masonry with sandstone decorations, stepped gables and

6300-578: The end of the 13th century and was closely connected to the Benedictine Order . The town's other old churches are St Mary's ( Vor Frue Kirke ) and St John's ( Skt. Hans Kirke ) with its adjacent monastery. Greyfriars Monastery ( Gråbrødre Kloster ) was founded by the Franciscans in 1279. In 1247 Odense was burned by Abel of Denmark during conflicts with his brother King Erik IV . The cathedral had to be completely rebuilt. Nevertheless,

6400-510: The fleet, mostly made up of peasants who needed to be home for the harvest season, got weary of waiting and elected Canute's brother Olaf (the later Olaf I of Denmark ) to argue their case. That raised the suspicion of Canute, who had Olaf arrested and sent to Flanders. The leding was eventually dispersed, and the peasants tended to their harvests. Before the fleet could reassemble, a peasant revolt broke out in Vendsyssel , where Canute

6500-462: The former sugar factory Sukkerkogeriet , where it runs the first drama school outside Copenhagen established in 1941. It is notable in theatrical history for staging the première of Henrik Ibsen 's first contemporary realist drama The Pillars of Society on 14 November 1877. Teater Momentum or Teater uden Ryglæn, publicly funded by the municipal government and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs,

6600-476: The late 12th century. The territory, previously part of the vast Archbishopric of Hamburg , was created a Catholic diocese in 988. The first recorded bishops of Odense were Odinkar Hvide and Reginbert , who was consecrated by Archbishop Æthelnoth of Canterbury , in 1022. Recent excavations have shown that from the early 11th century, the town developed in the area around Albani Torv, Fisketorvet, Overgade and Vestergade. By 1070, Odense had already grown into

6700-446: The latter is connected to the mainland by a 300-metre (980 ft)-long causeway. Vigelsø is the largest island in the fjord at 132 hectares and is an important breeding ground for migratory birds. It is part of the Special Area of Conservation No. SPC 94, Odense Fjord under the EU Habitat and Birds Directives and has been subject to close monitoring, with the target to reach at least "good" ecological status by 2015. The island

6800-437: The local merchants. The local nobility also participated in the city's development by building residences where they spent the winter months. But the city's prosperity came to an abrupt end in the late 1650s heavy taxes were imposed after the end of the Swedish Wars . A period of stagnation ensued until the end of the 18th century. From the 16th century the town was the meeting-place of several parliaments, and until 1805 Odense

6900-499: The municipality is Dyred Banke which is located at 123 m or 404 ft above sea level . The municipality, a former "Provincial municipality" was re-created 1 April 1970 as Odense municipality as the result of a kommunalreform ("Municipal Reform") that merged a number of existing Provincial - Parish - and Village - municipalities: Allerup-Davinde, Allese-Næsbyhoved, Broby, Brændekilde, Bellinge, Dalum, Fraugde, Korup-Ubberud, Lumby, Odense, Paarup, Sanderum, Stenløse-Fangel,

7000-498: The north. The Odense municipality is located near the Odense Fjord . The Odense Canal ( Odense Kanal ) flows out from the fjord and forms three ports in the city's industrial area. The Odense River ( Odense Å ) also flows out from the fjord and meanders through the municipality, including Odense town center where Sankt Jørgens Park and Munke Mose are located on its banks. The river springs from Lake Arreskov ( Arreskov Sø ) in Faaborg-Midtfyn municipality . The highest point in

7100-417: The northeast, Blommenslyst to the west, Bellinge to the southwest, and Neder Holluf and Højby to the south. The Odense River flows through Odense, to the south of the main shopping quarter. To the north of the city is the Odense Fjord, and to the northeast, along the 165 road to Kerteminde is Kerteminde Fjord . The fjord is accessed through the narrow passage of Gabets, between Hals and Skoven , and

7200-509: The northeast, Otterup to the north, Søndersø , Vissenbjerg , and Tommerup to the west, and Broby and Årslev to the south. Odense belonged to Funen County 1970-2006 and before this to Odense County . Odense's municipal council consists of 29 members, elected every four years. The municipal council has five political committees. Below are the municipal councils elected since the Municipal Reform of 2007 . Odense's mayor

7300-405: The offshore industries, creating a variety of new tenants. GASA, a large horticultural centre, supplies fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants to most of the country as well as for export. Established in 1988, Denmark's major commercial television channel TV 2 is based in Odense. The Rosengårdcentret shopping centre is located in the south-eastern part of Odense. The centre dates from 1971 and

7400-402: The outlaws, impose fines on subjects who failed to answer his leding call to war, and demand transportation for his retinue . His reign was marked by vigorous attempts to increase royal power in Denmark, by stifling the nobles and keeping them to the word of the law. Canute issued edicts arrogating to himself the ownership of common land , the right to the goods from shipwrecks , and

7500-497: The port, the population of Odense grew dramatically in the early 20th century. The 1901 census recorded 40,138 people, growing to 47,224 in 1911, 61,969 in 1921 and 87,090 in 1935. During the Second World War, the population passed the 100,000 mark, reaching 103,107 in 1945. It continued to grow in the post war years, with 120,570 recorded in 1955 and 133,384 in 1965; the city reached a population of 139,490 people in 1970,

7600-404: The provincial assembly of Funen. Denmark's famous author and poet Hans Christian Andersen was born in Odense on 2 April 1805. Museums honouring him have been created both in a house in the old part of Odense with a large collection of his works and belongings, and his childhood home, which is also located in the city. Odense also has a museum honouring the classical composer Carl Nielsen , who

7700-472: The reign of Olaf. On 19 April 1101, persuaded by the envoys from Eric I of Denmark , Pope Paschal II confirmed the "cult of Canute" that had arisen, and King Canute IV was canonized. He was the first Dane to be canonized. 10 July is recognised by the Catholic Church as his feast day. In Sweden and Finland he is historically, however, partially associated with St. Knut's Day , which in reality

7800-535: The right to inherit the possessions of foreigners and kinless folk. He also issued laws to protect freed thralls as well as foreign clerics and merchants. These policies led to discontent among his subjects, who were unaccustomed to a king claiming such powers and interfering in their daily lives. However, Canute's ambitions were not purely domestic. As the grandnephew of Canute the Great , who had ruled England , Denmark and Norway until 1035, Canute considered

7900-484: The southwest of the capital Copenhagen . The city was the seat of Odense County until 1970, and Funen County from 1970 until 1 January 2007, when Funen County became part of the Region of Southern Denmark . Odense has close associations with Hans Christian Andersen who is remembered above all for his fairy tales . He was born in the city in 1805 and spent his childhood years there. There has been human settlement in

8000-563: The town celebrated its 1,000th anniversary in 1988. The name refers to Odin in Norse mythology — Odins Vi ("Odin's Sanctuary"). The shrine of Canute the Saint was a great resort of pilgrims throughout the Middle Ages . His relics are still preserved in Saint Canute's Cathedral . In the 16th century the town was the meeting-place of several parliaments, and down to 1805 it was the seat of

8100-471: The town continued to flourish as a commercial centre, and was charted in 1335. The city thrived economically during the Middle Ages, attracting many merchants and craftsman who traded their goods. In 1482 Bishop Karl Rønnov brought the German printer Johann Snell to Odense to print a short prayer book, Breviarium Ottoniense , considered to be the first work to be printed in Scandinavia. In parallel Snell printed De obsidione et bello Rhodiano , an account of

8200-401: The wettest months, with August receiving 80 mm (3.1 in) and July 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain on average. Extratropical cyclones frequently affect the region, contributing to abundant precipitation. The coldest months are January and February, with a daily mean temperature of 0 °C (32 °F), and lows of −2 °C (28 °F) and −3 °C (26 °F) respectively. It

8300-569: The year. In 2011, Odense Zoo was Funen's most popular tourist attraction and the eleventh most popular in Denmark with 405,913 visitors. The zoo was founded in 1930 and covers an area of 3.6 hectares (8.9 acres) and has roughly 2,000 animals, covering 147 species . In 2001, Odense Zoo inaugurated a DKK 60 million "Oceanium" featuring South American animal life. Nightlife in the city culminates in Brandts Passage, which contains numerous restaurants, bars and cafes. Hotels of note include

8400-597: Was a natural ally for the Danes. He also led successful campaigns to Sember and Ester, according to skald Kálfr Mánason. When Sweyn died, Canute's brother Harald III was elected king, and as Canute went into exile in Sweden , he was possibly involved in the active opposition to Harald. On 17 April 1080, Harald died, and Canute succeeded him to the throne of Denmark. On his accession, he married Adela , daughter of Count Robert I of Flanders . They had one son, Charles , who

8500-565: Was born c.  1042 , one of the many sons of Sweyn II Estridsson by an unknown mistress. He is first noted as a member of Sweyn's 1069 raid on England , and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle reports that Canute was one of the leaders of another raid against England in 1075. When returning from England in 1075, the Danish fleet stopped in the County of Flanders . Because of its hostility towards William I of England , Flanders

8600-506: Was born in 1084, and twin daughters Cæcilia (who later married Erik Jarl) and Ingerid (who later married Folke the Fat ), who were born shortly before his death (ca. 1085/86). Ingerid's descendants, the House of Bjälbo , would ascend to the throne of Sweden and Norway and Canute IV's blood returned to the Danish throne in the person of Olaf II of Denmark . Canute quickly proved himself to be

8700-854: Was born in Nr. Lynelse near Odense. Tietgenbyen is a 280-hectare (690-acre) industrial area in Denmark, southeast of Odense near European route E20 . It is named after C.F. Tietgen , a businessman from Odense. It was established in 1999 by Odense Municipality. Businesses had long advocated for an industrial area near the highway. In its early years, Tietgenbyen had difficulty attracting new companies and sold only 7 hectares (17 acres) in 1999 and 2000, but managed to reach its unofficial goal of selling at least 100 hectares (250 acres) within 12 years. In January 2017, it contained 75 companies, and most of its lots had been sold. An 118-hectare (290-acre) area north of Tietgenbyen, known as Tietgenbyen Nord, has been reserved by Odense Municipality for future expansions. The new land

8800-465: Was born in Odense in 1805. It is thought his birthplace is the small yellow house on the corner of Hans Jensens Stræde and Bangs Boder in the old town. In 1908 the house was opened as the Hans Christian Andersen Museum . It documents his life from his childhood years as the son of a struggling shoemaker, to his schooling, career as an author, and later life, with artefacts providing an insight into his acquaintances and adventures. Andersen's childhood home

8900-430: Was built between 1796 and 1806 to facilitate the growth of Odense as a port city, radically increasing its level of trade and population. Founded in 1796, Odense Teater is the first provincial theatre in Denmark and the country's second oldest. Odense Central Library was established in 1924 and removed to Odense station in 1995. The Odense Music Library contains Denmark's largest collection of phonograms. From

9000-546: Was built by the Knights Hospitaller , also known as the Order of Saint John. Not much of the original building remains as it was rebuilt in 1636 and subsequently restored. Built of red brick with horizontal decorations on the chancel wall, it has large Gothic windows. The date of 1496 on one of the bells in the step-ribbed tower may well be the year the church was completed. The tower is adjacent to Odense Palace which

9100-409: Was celebrated in the memory of the death of his nephew , Canute Lavard . In 1300, his remains and those of his brother Benedict were interred in Saint Canute's Cathedral , built in his honour, where his remains are on display. The reign of Canute has been interpreted differently through the times; from a violent king who tyrannized his subjects, to a strict but fair ruler who devotedly supported

9200-518: Was completed on the building's interiors, including the entrance halls, meeting rooms, banqueting hall and council chamber. Odense Palace was erected by Frederick IV, who died there in 1730. Now an administrative building, it stands on the site of Sankt Hans Kloster , a 15th-century monastery which was transferred to the Crown in 1536. The main white Baroque wing with 13 bays was designed by J.C. Krieger for Frederick IV and completed in 1723. Set in

9300-436: Was defeated by Jan Boye , a Conservative . He was re-elected in the 2009 election, forming a coalition with the Red–Green Alliance , the Socialist People's Party and the Social Democrats. The city council's motto is At lege er at leve (Playing is living) summarising a new approach addressing learning, innovation, development and growth with targets for 2017. Boye and his administration have been criticised for mismanaging

9400-532: Was founded on 13 September 1985 as part of the Brandts International Centre for Art and Culture and opened its own exhibition space in 1987. The Media Museum of Odense documents the history of the freedom of speech in Denmark since 1849, and the development of the printing press and the history of Danish broadsheet Berlingske . Canute IV of Denmark Canute IV ( c.  1042  – 10 July 1086), later known as Canute

9500-400: Was further boosted by the building of a railway across Funen in 1865, and Odense became one of Denmark's largest rail junctions. All this provided an ideal basis for industrialisation, attracting a wide range of industries including iron and metals, textiles, and food and beverages. Separate areas of the city were devoted to increased industrial and residential expansion, and the population of

9600-533: Was here the English monk Ælnoth wrote Denmark's first literary work, Vita et Passio S. Canuti (The Life and Passion of St Canute). Canute's shrine in Odense Cathedral (which was attached to the priory) attracted pilgrims throughout the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages, a number of churches and monasteries were built in the town. St Canute's Church ( Skt. Knuds Kirke ), now the cathedral, dates from

9700-470: Was like in Denmark at the time of Andersen's life and contains houses of historical Odense. The Carl Nielsen Museum is dedicated to the life of Carl Nielsen and his wife, the sculptor Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen . It documents his life from his childhood in the town of Nr. Lyndelse, to his career and success on the European music scene, with his violins, his bugle and his grand piano on display, as well as

9800-428: Was originally built as a monastery. Ansgars Church was the first church to be built in Odense since the Middle Ages. Completed in 1902, it was designed by Niels Jacobsen in the late Romanesque style in red brick on granite foundations. The cross-shaped interior is complemented by a spired bell-tower, 45 m (148 ft) high. The Peace Church ( Fredenskirke ) consecrated in 1920 was so named in gratitude for

9900-416: Was staying, in early 1086. Canute first fled to Schleswig and eventually to Odense . On 10 July 1086, Canute and his men took refuge inside the wooden St. Alban's Priory , in Odense. The rebels stormed into the church and slew Canute, along with his brother Benedict and seventeen of their followers, before the altar. According to the chronicler Ælnoth of Canterbury , Canute died following a lance thrust in

10000-606: Was the seat of the provincial assembly of Funen. By 1700 Odense's population was about 4,000. Dramatic changes began in Odense in the 18th century to modernise the city and a great plan was drawn up for development. In 1720, Frederick IV ordered the rebuilding of Odense Palace, partly on the foundations of the 13th century St. Hans’s Monastery , and the construction of St Hans’s Church by the Knights Hospitallers . An 8 kilometre (5.0 mi) long, 7.5 metre (25 ft) deep canal from Odense Harbour to Odense Fjord

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