The Funen Village

The Funen Village (Den Fynske Landsby) is an open-air museum in the Fruens Bøge neighbourhood of Odense. It was founded in 1942 as a public works project during the German occupation of Denmark; the open-air site opened in 1944 and was used for patriotic song festivals during the Occupation before opening fully to the public on 1 April 1946, with King Christian X among the guests.

The village gathers 25 historic buildings brought from villages across Funen, most dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Among them are a parsonage, a watermill, an inn, a school and a windmill, along with several homes. The great majority are half-timbered, as masonry buildings only became common in the Funen countryside in the late 1800s. In summer the village comes alive with costumed actors demonstrating traditional crafts and farming, and the gardens are planted with old varieties of flowers and vegetables.

Allow about three hours for a relaxed visit; summer is best, when the living museum is fully staffed. Admission is 95 DKK for adults and free for anyone under 18. The museum is at Sejerskovvej 20, 5260 Odense S — take bus 110 or 111 from Odense station, or cycle the 3 km from the centre. It pairs perfectly with a visit to H.C. Andersen's House in the city.