Danish tales. Danish folk tales. Glyptothek - the sculptural highlight of Copenhagen

There are approximately 46,000 Hans, 36,000 Christians and 173,000 Andersens in Denmark. And also one queen, one crown prince and another 5,413,390 people, each of whom knows that inkwells can talk, Norwegian trolls come to visit Denmark, and chimney sweeps are the most beautiful profession in the world.

First, we learn that all the small things around us can talk, and a little later we read about how Prince Hamlet went crazy - on what basis? - on our, Danish. And a little later we learn the name of Kierkegaard, another Danish storyteller, only for very adults. In all these stories, for children or for adults, there is something from that Danish soil and from that Danish belief in ordinary miracles.

It's all about the climate. Or in landscapes. Or in the blood of the Vikings, which makes the Danes not only believe in the god Odin, but understand that he is wandering somewhere. Or that Denmark is a monarchy, and the word "queen" is one of the most fabulous in the world. Or, finally, is the fact that Denmark consists of islands, and this makes you wonder what is there, on a neighboring island? It is worth thinking about - and another fairy tale is ready.

But in fact, of course, Denmark is associated with fairy tales solely because of Hans Christian Andersen. A naive melancholic who does not let himself be forgotten on any street in Copenhagen or Odense. Andersen painted over the whole of Denmark: monuments, streets, memorial plaques, this Little Mermaid sits and looks, sits and looks ... Andersen is the most famous Dane in the world, there is no getting away from this.

Andersenomania, already strong, will flourish even more magnificently by the spring of 2005: it will be 200 years since the birth of the writer. They say that the event will be truly fabulous, "comparable in scope except perhaps with the opening Olympic Games". There is hardly much to swing: Andersen is omnipresent, and if in some cafe or on some street you don’t see anything that would remind you of him, then you are in Christiania, and soon the nearest sunny beam or darning needle.

Hans Christian Andersen was born on the island of Funen, in the city of Odense. To the world of people, the world of gods and the animal kingdom, he added another world: the kingdom of small things, talkative and importunate, touchy and melancholic. He could not have been born in another place: the inhabitants of the island of Funen proudly tell that all travelers arriving on their island always say: "It's a fairy tale!"

Funen is streets that seem like toys, and houses in which you can safely settle the heroes of fairy tales. But it is also the sacred grove of Glavendrup (be careful, the god Thor lives here), in the middle of which stands a magic stone with runic inscriptions. If you touch it, then an unbearable wind will rise and will blow until the wicked, who dared to offend the gods, escapes from the grove. The trees are carved with their own letters: "Hans plus Marie equals love" - ​​and all this is enclosed in a heart, or simply "there was such and such a local Vasya" and the date. Trees, according to legend, should not be touched either, so these letters appear, apparently, in a magical way.

Once upon a time, sacrifices were made here (if you are interested in how it was, read Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"). Danish fairy tales balance between the memory of the Vikings and today's toy houses. Maybe these fairy tales come with the snow, sit on every snowflake: tilt your head back and catch them with your mouth, they grow inside, turn into slow, heavy stories, cold like the Snow Queen and hot like your heart.

One of the greatest contemporary Danish fairy tales is Peter Høeg's Smilla and Her Sense of Snow, a spellbinding novel of cold and mystery, about Denmark and Greenland. "It's unusually cold outside - minus 18 degrees Celsius, and it's snowing, and in a language that is no longer mine, such snow is called qanik - large, almost weightless crystals that keep falling and falling, covering the ground with a layer of white powder ", - this is how this story begins, not a detective story and not a fantasy, but rather a journey through the cold. Danish madness and sunshine are intertwined in the books of Høeg, the most famous contemporary Danish writer. A dancer, actor, sailor, climber, literary critic, Hög could tell a lot about the creatures living in the icy water of the northern seas, and about forest monsters. But he writes about people and time.

Another modern storyteller known throughout the world is the Dane Lars von Trier. His film fairy tales, on the one hand, are clearly constructed, according to the rules that he himself invented, and on the other hand, they explore the limits of the audience's tolerance and amaze with their, albeit calculated, emotionality.

Dogmatism and fury, coldness and madness - an absolutely Danish combination, from which the whole world shudders, rewards the Danes with all kinds of prizes and goes to see what makes this small country produce such amazing illusions.

And in Denmark, tourists expect exactly what they aspire to. Everything said about her is true, and everything is an understatement. What country can be where Santa Clauses come in the summer for their professional congress? Where, as one of the main tourist attractions, is shown the castle of the mad Hamlet, in which he never lived? Where in one area of ​​the city there are laws that are invalid in the rest of the kingdom?

Such is the country. Fabulous. What are at least the names of streets, squares, houses and districts of Copenhagen: New Royal Square - the very one on which the silent witch was once saved from death by her brothers who turned into swans. Marble Church, Nyhavn - New Harbor - with toy colorful houses reflected in the swaying waves, Amalienborg Palace - the official residence of the Danish kings ... Even The Royal Family looks very fabulous: they say the crown prince married a Hong Kong beauty and drives a car himself. And Queen Margrethe II has a dachshund with the fabulous name Baltasar. Many fairy tales are also told about parliament: for example, ordinary Danes can come to a meeting of parliament and listen to what is being said there.

There is still a lot of magic in Denmark. The city of Riba, for example, is famous for being the only one in Denmark where storks live (it is not known what the birth rate is here, but most likely the highest in the country). They say that in every Danish fortress you can meet a ghost - a white lady who, if she could speak, would certainly complain about something. And in the castle of Elsinore, he is Kronborg, the father of Hamlet, no one Lately was not. True, local guides, who are even more than ghosts, claim that the shadow of Hamlet's father wanders around the castle regularly and all the time tells eyewitnesses new details of his death.

If you believe the same Andersen, Holger the Dane is sitting in the basement of this particular castle. Holger Danske, according to legend, is chained in iron and steel, his beard is rooted to the table, he sleeps and sees in a dream everything that is being done in Denmark. But if the country is in danger, he will wake up to stand up for her. Maybe the Danes are so concerned about the environment and pay taxes so willingly, because they don’t want to disturb their patron in vain: let him sleep, they can handle it themselves.

Legoland is also known to the whole world, here everything is built from Lego blocks, including the main European sights, the Danish Royal Palace and the statue of - well, of course - Hans Christian Andersen.

There is no escape, Andersen, the shadow of Hamlet's father, follows every tourist around Odense and Copenhagen, each of Denmark's 400+ islands. Here is the Odense River: "Bom-bom!" - a ringing is heard from the bell pool of the Odense River ... The deepest place is opposite the Maiden Monastery; it is called the bell pool, and in this abyss lives a water one. The waterman, of course, remembers Hans Christian, ask him if you're interested. He is so lonely that he is only too happy to talk to the tourists.

Here is Nyhavn, where there are signs on two houses saying that a great storyteller lived here. Here is the La Glace confectionery: it was founded in 1870, and every month a special cake is baked here, naming it after some fairy tale by Andersen, and cake number 13 bears the name of the storyteller himself. Eat Hans Christian, it's unforgettable.

Here is the Museum of Industrial Art: a student from "Magic galoshes" stuck his head through its lattice, and got back out, only once again making a wish to the galoshes. This grid is still intact. Who knows, maybe there are such galoshes somewhere.

Here is Tivoli Park: it was opened back in 1843, Andersen participated in its opening, and one of the park's attractions, the Chinese Bazaar, gave him the idea of ​​a fairy tale about the Nightingale and the Chinese Emperor. Now this attraction is gone, but the fairy tale remains. It is believed that in Tivoli you can feel the spirit of the 19th century: the same tin soldiers are sold here. Andersen, by the way, did not like the park at all. Peter Vail believes that the whole point is that women of easy virtue from Tivoli laughed at the appearance of the storyteller.

Now in Copenhagen there are two monuments to Andersen. A child was supposed to hold on to the legs of one of these bronze storytellers, but Andersen, having learned about this (the sculpture was made during his lifetime), got angry: "My fairy tales are exactly the same for adults as for children!" - and the girl was removed from her knees. And it’s somehow inconvenient to put adults on Andersen’s knees. And, of course, the Little Mermaid. Although I don’t want to talk about it at all in connection with Denmark: the country is much more interesting than this inexpressive bronze woman with a tail, whose head was sawn off, then her arm, and to which tourists come as if they were working. It's funny, but the ballerina served as a model for the Little Mermaid. The poor sea creature would probably be delighted if he knew about it.

But, frankly, the ubiquitous Andersen was absolutely right. He believed that there are no fairy tales better than those created by life itself. Here they are, these fairy tales: the multi-colored houses of Novaya Gavan, unexpected "Moscow Nights" performed by the musicians of the pedestrian street Stroget, the changing of the guard at the royal palace, the technical excellence of Legoland, hearts on the trees of the sacred grove. And the living wind roaming over the gray deep water.

Xenia Rozhdestvenskaya

DENMARK(Kingdom of Denmark) - a state in Northern Europe, on the Jutland Peninsula and the islands of the Danish archipelago (Zeeland, Lolland, Falster, etc., as well as the island of Bornholm). The islands are interconnected by numerous bridges and ferries. The territory of Denmark also includes the Faroe Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean, and Greenland, which enjoy internal self-government. The area of ​​the country's territory is 43 thousand km 2 (excluding the Faroe Islands and Greenland). The population of Denmark is 5.38 million people (2003), consists almost entirely of Danes. The official language in Denmark is Danish. Capital - city Copenhagen.

In the 5th-6th centuries, the Danes came from the south of Sweden to the Jutland Peninsula, inhabited by the Jutes, Angles, Saxons and Teutons. The Danes took part in the sea campaigns of the Vikings, invaded Britain and imposed tribute on it (danegeld). In the 10th century, a single kingdom was created, and around 960, Christianity was adopted in Denmark. During the 11th century, the Danish kings conquered Norway and England (Knut I the Mighty), but a few years later the kingdom fell apart.

Denmark in the Middle Ages waged fierce wars for dominance in the North Sea. In 1397, the Kalmar Union was concluded, which united Denmark, Norway and Sweden into a single state, and lasted until 1523. In 1536 the Reformation was introduced. In the Thirty Years' War, Denmark took part on the side of the Protestants. In 1660 Denmark became a hereditary monarchy. After the Northern War, Denmark acquired part of Schleswig. In the 17th century, during the Danish-Swedish wars for hegemony in the Baltic Sea, Denmark lost to Sweden. In the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark sided with France and was bombarded by the British fleet. The continuation of the Napoleonic wars was the war with Sweden in 1813-14. Denmark gave Norway under the rule of Sweden (without Iceland), and after the Prussian-Austrian-Danish war of 1864-66. lost Schleswig and Holstein. In 1918, Iceland gained autonomy, remaining with Denmark in a personal union until 1944.

During World War I, Denmark remained neutral. In 1920, North Holstein was returned to her according to the results of a plebiscite. Despite the conclusion of a non-aggression pact in 1939, Nazi Germany occupied Denmark in April 1940. In 1948, self-government was granted to the Faroe Islands. In 1972, Margrethe II ascended the throne.

Denmark has been a member of the UN since 1945, NATO since 1949, the Council of Europe since 1949 and the European Union since 1973.

The culture of Denmark is very diverse. But if you try to highlight something, then in the first place, of course, will be the tales of the great Danish writer, storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. Any person, especially a child, remembers his "Thumbelina", "Ugly Duckling", "Snow Queen", "Mermaid" and others. Andersen's fairy tales combine romance and realism, fantasy and humor, a satirical beginning with irony. Many of them were based on folklore, imbued with humanism and lyricism. I think that the Danish folk tales presented on our page will interest you no less than Andersen's tales.

"What can't be taken away from a person,

So atabout what he saw

(ancient folk wisdom)

We are starting a great journey through the Scandinavian countries. Arriving at dawn in the Swedish port of Ishtad, we quickly overcome the Swedish fields with windmills by bus and approach the delicate lace of the 16-kilometer Erisonbryn bridge connecting Sweden (Malmö) with Denmark. This is one of the gates to the Danish kingdom. The border runs in the middle of the bridge and is marked only by a round shield with the stars of the European Union on a blue background and the inscription "Denmark". Yes, and Denmark itself can be compared with a bridge thrown from Europe to the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Small country with a rich history

On the way, our guide begins the story of this small kingdom, noting that Denmark is so small in size, but so rich in history and sights, that you can completely cross it from end to end without finishing the story about it. The fact that in Denmark no one lives more than 54 km from the sea speaks eloquently about the size of the territory and the peculiarities of the configuration of the country's borders. This is one of the most low-lying and flat countries in the world.

Denmark is located on the Jutland Peninsula (there is the only 68-kilometer land border with Germany). In the 4th century, the Jutes and Angles arrived in Denmark, during the Great Migration of Nations they migrated to Britain, and the Jutland Peninsula was settled by the Danes who came from the south of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The first information about them appears in the sources of the VI-VII centuries. The Danes were united in tribal unions, by the beginning of the 9th century they began to develop an early feudal structure of society, headed by leaders (kings), below - tribal nobility and free communal peasants (bonds), who had the right to bear arms. At first, there was a single Scandinavian community, after the collapse of which a number of Scandinavian peoples (in particular Danish) formed and the Danish state was formed (X century). The unification of the country was finally completed during the reign of Harold I (987). This is also evidenced by the inscriptions on the runic stone in Jelling, where the word "Denmark" appears for the first time. The Jelling Stones are considered to be Denmark's "birth certificate". The Danes were active participants in the Viking campaigns that took place from the end of the 8th to the 11th centuries. During this period, Iceland was mastered, and settlements were created in Greenland and North America (Vinland).

In 1397, as a result of the Kalmar Union, a union of three states was formed - Denmark, Norway and Sweden under the rule of the Danish queen Margrethe I (Margrete I). The union lasted until Sweden, led by King Gustav I, seceded in 1523. Denmark and Norway remained united until 1814, when Denmark renounced Norway in favor of Sweden in the Peace of Kiel. Norway's former North Atlantic possessions: Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands remained part of the Kingdom of Denmark, with the exception of Iceland, which declared independence in 1944. Later, the Faroe Islands and Greenland received local self-government.

For quite a long period, all these peoples spoke dialects of the Danish language (one of the modern Norwegian languages Bokmål is a dialect of Danish).

Denmark has long been considered the most prosperous country on the planet. Satisfied 5.7 million Danes live here in abundance, honoring their queen and completely trusting the unicameral parliament, called the Folketing. In Denmark, as in all other Scandinavian countries, the main religion is Protestantism (Evangelical Lutheran Church).

Modern Denmark is an example of a country with highly developed technology, high-quality free medicine, decent education, decent pensions, high life expectancy (76 years for men and 81 years for women). There is almost no unemployment in the country. GDP per capita for 2015 - $ 52,114 (7th place in the IMF List).

One of the main attractions of Denmark is the Danes themselves, their friendliness, hospitality and humor. The Danes live at the crossroads of Scandinavian, European and Baltic cultures. This helped them to be open both in terms of boundaries and to outside influences. The key to the Danish heart is the word "hygge", which means a combination of warmth, wellness and intimacy.

About the kings, queens and princes of Denmark - the mind, honor and conscience of Denmark

Denmark is the oldest kingdom in the world, the power of kings did not stop for a day in the entire history of the kingdom. I note that all the kings of the Oldenburg and Glücksburg dynasties (from 1442 to the present) were not original: all the kings were called either Christians or Fredericks.

Here is one fact from history that characterizes the king's true concern for his subjects. April 9, 1940 German troops enter Denmark and capture the country within 2 hours. According to legend, after the occupation of Denmark by the Nazis, Christian X, whose motto was the phrase: “My God, my country, my honor”, ​​upon learning of the order that Danish Jews must wear a yellow Star of David, asks Queen Alexandrina to attach a Star of David to his clothes as a sign of solidarity with the Jews, saying that all Danes are equal. With the Star of David on his chest, he makes horse rides around Copenhagen. The example of the king is followed by ordinary Danes, attaching yellow stars to their clothes, buildings and cars. After that, the order was canceled ...

Even though this story is often told in the media, it never actually happened. In particular, the occupying authorities never issued an order for Danish Jews to wear such signs. It originated from a conversation between the king and his finance minister, Wilhelm Buhl, during which Christian X remarked that if the German administration tried to introduce the Star of David in Denmark, "perhaps then we should all wear it." But in gratitude, in the Israeli Yad Vashem memorial on the Alley of the Righteous, tree number 25 is dedicated to the People of Denmark, number 26 to King Christian X.

In the entire history of the monarchy, only two queens ruled, who also bore the same name: Margrethe I (1387-1412) and the current Margrethe II (on the throne from 01/14/1972). But the time of their reign is a bright page in the history of the country. Margrethe I forever entered the history of Denmark, subjugating all of Scandinavia (remember the Kalmar Union).

The Danes adore their current Empress Margrethe II. There is no gossip about her, similar to those that accompany the life of Buckingham Palace. The only case of discussion of the behavior of the queen did not touch her personal life at all. This was the period when the Danish parliament had just introduced a ban on smoking on planes. And Margrethe, a heavy smoker, either out of forgetfulness or for some other reason, took up and lit a cigarette. All the newspapers discussed: is it possible to make an exception for royal persons. The queen does not give other reasons for discussion. She is a busy woman. Together with her husband, she translates books and draws. She has designed several books as an artist (including the Danish translation of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings), acted as a costume designer in several theatrical productions and was even a ballet production designer. One of her main duties - the education of a worthy heir to the throne - she also successfully fulfilled. According to the general opinion of the subjects, Crown Prince Henrik turned out to be what he needed. Margaret allowed her son to marry for love, which won the love of her subjects even more. Her birthday in Denmark is a national holiday with carnivals and fireworks.

Copenhagen - the soul of Denmark

The capital of Copenhagen is located on one of the largest islands in the region - Zeeland on the shores of the Erison Strait, a waterway connecting the Baltic and North Seas.

A beautiful historical city founded in 1167 by Bishop Abasalon. It became the capital back in 1443. Currently, 1.1 million people live in it.

Copenhagen meets us with coolness, strong drafts, but, to our joy, without rain, which is a frequent guest there. You involuntarily compare him with a hospitable person who hospitably opened his gates to the guests in the city, famous for its numerous monuments, spiers, towers and bell towers. First we visit the church of St. Alban on the Langelinje embankment.

Near the church of St. Alban there is an interesting object - a large fountain depicting the mythological goddess of fertility Gefion with a stern face and inflated biceps, chasing four angry bulls with a whip. It was created in 1908 by Anders Bodgord, using a legend from Scandinavian mythology, according to which the Swedish king set a condition: how much land he plows in a night, he will receive so much. Gefion waved her whip and the bulls plowed all night, tore off a huge piece from Sweden. This is how Denmark was born.

We go to a beautiful flower park, in the center of which there is a majestic monument, at the foot of which is furnished with muzzles of cannons and cannonballs, the top is decorated with the symbol of victory, the goddess Nike. This is the Obelisk of Glory, dedicated to the memory of the Northern War of 1700-1721.

Our tour continues, and we come to the place where the symbol of Copenhagen is located - the Little Mermaid, but she is not there ... The guide understands and hurries to reassure: the Little Mermaid is on a "business trip". In Beijing, at the international exhibition. And this photo is from the Internet, so as not to lose the main symbol of the city at all.

Amalienborg Palace Complex - Head of Denmark

Among other sights seen, the Amalienborg Palace complex, built in the 1750s, stands out. The complex got its name from the name of the mistress of the palace, which stood here, but completely burned down - Sophie Amalienborg. Four identical buildings are located opposite each other on an octagonal square,

in the center of which rises an elegant equestrian monument to Federico V. The buildings are surrounded by a garden that separates them from the port.

We were lucky - we witnessed a colorful and solemn ceremony of changing the guard of honor. Exactly at noon, to the bravura sounds of the march, the royal guards in dark blue uniforms and caps cheerfully marched past us and took up their posts, replacing the same brave fellows in uniform, but only in high bear hats.

Nearby is the famous Marble Cathedral. Its dome with a diameter of 30 m is very similar to the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.

I also liked the interior of the cathedral.

Not far from the Marble Cathedral rises the golden-domed Russian Orthodox Church of Alexander Nevsky. Its history is connected with the name of Empress Maria Feodorovna, wife of Emperor Alexander III, born Danish Princess Dagmar. In 1880, the emperor ordered to purchase in Copenhagen, in the homeland of his wife, a place for the construction of an Orthodox church. For its construction, 300 thousand rubles were allocated from the treasury, 70 thousand - from the personal funds of the emperor. The church was consecrated in the name of the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky, the heavenly patron of Alexander III.

Glyptothek - the sculptural highlight of Copenhagen

Denmark can rightly be called a country-museum. Little Denmark has more than 700 museums, well-preserved ancient castles and fortresses. And all this is located on the territory of 44 thousand square meters. km. There are more than 60 of them in Copenhagen alone. There is also the famous Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, the Guinness World Records Museum, the Postal and Television Museum, and the Museum of Wonders with curiosities from all over the world and with a very unusual name “Believe it or not. ”, and even the Museum of Erotica, the first in the world to demonstrate the history of eroticism in its exposition, consisting of postcards, photographs, films, sculptures and other things. It will not be boring to visit the Museum of Carriages, the Museum of the History of the Theater, the Round Tower, the Museum of Labor. Centuries-old Danish history, numerous monuments of the past and short distances between sights often make visitors exclaim: "This is not a country - this is a fairy tale come true!"

On the advice of our friend, an expert in the field of art, we visit the Glyptothek. The concept of "glyptothek" was introduced by the librarian of the Bavarian king Ludwig I, forming a word from the Greek "glypt os", which means "cut stone" and "thēkē" - storage, box, i.e. collection of carved stones, museum of sculpture. Currently, three museums have received the name "Glyptothek": in Munich, in Athens and in Copenhagen.

The new Carlsberg Glyptothek was founded by a great connoisseur of art, the "beer king" - the founder of the Carlsberg brand, Carl Jacobsen. The collection of the museum originated from his private collection. The museum exhibits works of art from various eras - from ancient to modern. On the lower floor there is an extensive collection of ancient sculpture - Greek, Egyptian, Etruscan and Roman. There are many sculptures by famous masters, including 30 works by the French sculptor Rodin.

Of interest is the museum building itself with a winter garden in the center, located close to Tivoli Park in the very center of the city. The first wing of the Glyptothek was designed by architect Wilhelm Dahlerup and opened in 1897. Later, in 1906, it was completed with a new wing designed by Hack Kampmann. Antique works are kept in this wing. In 1996 the museum was expanded by the Danish architect Henning Larsen. In 2006, the Glyptothek was again restored.

Rosenborg Castle and the Royal Garden - one of the jewels of the royal crown

There is something to see and lovers of fortresses and castles. For example, we paid attention to Rosenborg Castle in Copenhagen. Christian IV built Rosenborg in 1606-34 as a holiday castle. The style of this castle - the Dutch Renaissance, was largely determined by the drawings made by the hand of Christian IV himself. Subsequent kings also used the castle until Frederick IV built Frederiksberg in 1710. After that, Rosenborg was visited by kings only occasionally, mainly for official receptions, etc. In addition, it was used as a pantry for royal property, heirlooms, thrones, regalia, etc. were stored in it.

As a museum, Rosenborg has a long tradition. As early as 1838, the royal storerooms were open to the public. The rooms furnished for Christian IV and Frederick IV have been restored to their original state. Castle life of successive kings is presented in halls whose furnishings show a change in style and include furnishings from royal castles. The purpose of this was to show national history, which, according to the idea of ​​that time, was strongly associated with the royal dynasty. Such a chronologically arranged exposition was a new word in museum business, differing from the thematic expositions of museums of earlier times. When in the 60s years XIX century Rosenborg was discovered in the form in which it mostly came down to us, it attracted more public attention. The royal dynasty was represented in it until the last dead king, in connection with which Rosenborg became the first museum in Europe dedicated to its time.

It is worth highlighting its basement and treasury. Its exposition presents the attributes of royal life: weapons and wine, items made of ivory and amber, riding clothes, royal jewelry, a scepter, crowns of autocrats, etc.

Through the Green Bridge we pass into the Royal Garden, which was intended for the amusement of the king and partly for growing fruits and vegetables for the royal table.

For security reasons, the garden was surrounded by a moat, over which a drawbridge was thrown. The oldest part of the garden in the style of the Dutch Renaissance was specially preserved, moreover - walking in the garden, as well as in the palace, you can see how the fashion for the appearance of the garden, their layout and garden decorations changed.

Each architect of the castle brought something of his own to the gardens, and as a result, a territory of 12 hectares was obtained. There are pavilions in the neoclassical style, and a number of notable sculptures. Green galleries are replaced by neat lawns, comfortable benches are everywhere. A wonderful place to relax is now not only for kings - since the beginning of the 18th century, the garden has been open to everyone.

Town Hall Square - the heart of Copenhagen

We continue our walking tour at the Town Hall Square - a large square that can accommodate more than 100 thousand people at the same time. This happened twice in its history: the first time in 1945 after the liberation of Denmark from fascism, the second - in 1992, when the country's team won the European Football Championship. First of all, our attention was drawn to the City Hall, built of dark red brick, like many buildings in Copenhagen, incl. Train Station, Tivoli Park and Glyptothek. On the pediment of the Town Hall there is a golden bas-relief of Bishop Abasalon. Several ugly dragons sit in front of the Town Hall, as if guarding the entrance to it.

Near the Town Hall there is an unusual fountain called "Bull tearing apart the dragon."

To the left of the Town Hall there is a high red pedestal, on which two Viking troubadours stand, blowing their lures. Several legends are associated with this pedestal. According to the first legend, if the country is in danger, the Vikings will blow their lures for real, and the hero Holger of Denmark, who is resting in the dungeon of Kronborg Castle, will rise to the defense. According to the second, the Vikings should blow their trumpets if an innocent girl passes through the square. Copenhageners, on the other hand, joke and assure that lures will sound at the moment when at least one person who has paid all taxes appears on the square. Whose side we take into account, but the fact remains - so far no one has heard the sound of pipes.

In the corner of Town Hall Square there is a monument to Hans Christian Andersen with polished bronze knees: everyone, young and old, wants to sit on the knees of the great storyteller. Andersen looks towards the famous Tivoli, which is rather strange, because Andersen was an ardent opponent of the creation of an amusement park.

On the tower near the Town Hall Square there is a figurine of a girl on a bicycle. This is a kind of weather forecaster. If rain was expected, then a girl under an umbrella would leave.

Ströget street - the central artery of the city

Next, we walk along the longest pedestrian street Strøget in Europe, located in the very center of the Danish capital, which stretches from the bustling Town Hall Square to the New Royal Square - a wide open space in front of Christianborg Palace, which now houses the Danish Parliament. Its length is 1800 m. Strøget includes a network of several intersecting streets of the old town, however, the streets crossing it are not pedestrian.

At the intersection there are several squares, in the center of which there are wonderful fountains, among which is Caritas - a fountain, on top of which stands a woman with children.

The street is literally dotted with all sorts of restaurants, cafes, shops with goods for every taste, including souvenirs, as well as pavilions with various food, ice cream and drinks.

At the entrance to one of these establishments there is a sculpture of tall man in the world (he is Danish) and we take pictures with him.

Strøget ends at the New Royal Square with a monument to Christian V in the center. The most notable building on the square is the Royal Theatre. This is a habitat for street musicians, artists, who are on duty there, waiting for customers and rickshaws. The fountain of storks located on it is about 100 years old.

Latin Quarter - the brain of Denmark

Having turned from Ströget street, we go in and inspect Cathedral Holy Virgin Mary. Inside it is very light, sculptures are placed on the sides.

Behind the cathedral is the university district, called the Latin Quarter. It owes its name to the University of Copenhagen, one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1479. Busts of university graduates lined up in front of one of the buildings, bringing Denmark fame in the scientific community, among whom we recognize the outstanding physicist Niels Bohr.

We complete our walk through the Latin Quarter with a visit to another curiosity - the Round Tower, on the facade of which a golden emblem is fixed. It was built in 1642 as an astronomical observatory of the ancient Copenhagen University. The height of the tower is 36 meters. Inside the building there is a spiral gentle rise without steps, the length of which is 209 meters. A curious fact - on this unique rise in 1716, the great Tsar of All Rus', Peter the Great, rode on a horse to the very top of the tower! Yes, and not alone, but accompanied by a carriage with Tsarina Catherine. Now a rotating dome is installed on this peak, from the platform of which an amazing panorama of Copenhagen opens. Having examined the tower, we go to the port quarter of Newhaven.

Boat trip along the blood arteries of the city

We finish our walking tour in one of the most picturesque areas of the city of Newhavn (New Harbor), which stretches along the New Harbor Canal connecting the inner city with the sea. The canal was dug back in 1671 by the design of the royal engineer, and most of the buildings built along it have more than three hundred years of history. He is extraordinarily handsome. Peacefully swaying on the water, ancient wooden ships against the backdrop of neat, clinging to each other two - three-story multi-colored houses - the spectacle is simply unforgettable! IN late XVIII - early XIX century the area around the canal was the center of trade in Copenhagen. In the port, we board a boat open to all winds and go on a boat trip along the numerous canals and the strait, so we managed to see almost all the sights of the city. The first thing the guide pays attention to is the house where Hans Christian Andersen lived and worked more than a century and a half ago.

We are warned to duck: we pass under a very low bridge, one of many that we will see during a more than 2-hour walk. The boat literally maneuvers among numerous yachts. Yachts are a common landscape in Copenhagen. There are so many of them on our way, it seems that each resident has his own yacht. And we thought that bicycles were the main and favorite mode of transport for Copenhageners. Or maybe a yacht, and a car, and a bicycle are essential attributes for the life of every Dane!

We sail past the Royal Library's state-of-the-art Black Diamond building for its gleaming black color, past the new high-rise building with blue windows - as if hundreds of blue eyes are winking at us.

And how many small cafes and restaurants standing on the water, we met - they simply cannot be counted! And everywhere calm, unhurried, friendly people. While sailing along the canals, we pay attention to the fact that modern buildings harmoniously coexist next to historical sights.

The boat is approaching the shore of the famous state within the state of hippies and free artists, which in 1971 was proclaimed by the homeless and students as the "free state of Christiania". The "state" located on the territory of the former military barracks is based on the principles of collectivism, cars, hard drugs are prohibited here, there are no taxes, rent, but there is a free and bohemian life. With some apprehension and burning curiosity, an unthinkable number of tourists visit Christiania every year.

Sailing through one of the rather narrow channels, we pay attention to another temple - the Church of the Savior, with a unique spire, which, contrary to all architectural traditions, is twisted counterclockwise. It is located in the old district of the city, Christianhavn, where rich merchants and wealthy people used to build their mansions.

We are looking with interest at the residential quarter on the site of the former naval base, where the docks have been converted into elegant unique houses in which people live.

A walk along the canals ends our acquaintance with Copenhagen. You can talk about Copenhagen indefinitely. This city does not want to leave at all, just as you do not want to complete your story about it, because every corner, every street attracts, surprises and opens every time from a new side.

Bicycles are the ubiquitous legs of the Danes

Transport infrastructure is well developed in Copenhagen. Thus, the metro, S-train, buses, taxis are at the service of citizens and guests of the city. But the life of the Danes is calm and measured, many go to work or study by bike. They are said to be born with a bicycle. Tourists are assured that this is the favorite transport of ministers and members of parliament. Bicycles clearly prevail over cars, they stand freely on the streets and roads. Bicycle roads are the pride of the Danes, they are exemplary. Ten roads of national importance with a length of 3,300 kilometers have been laid throughout the country. Naturally, there are also local bike trails. Bicycle markings on Copenhagen roads appeared in 1901 - for the first time in the world, and the Dane Petersen was the father of the bicycle. There are 120 bike stands in Copenhagen. You approach the parking lot, throw a coin of 20 crowns into a special slot - and the bike is at your service. You skated, you approach any parking lot, put the bike in the rack - and 20 kroons fall out, that is, you use the bike for free. In the center of Copenhagen, you can also find rickshaws.

Kronberg Castle - Gateway to the Kingdom of Denmark

Leaving the city that has simply fascinated us in such a short time, we are heading to the city of Helsingør, located forty kilometers from Copenhagen. In this city stands the castle of Kronberg.

Unlike previous castles, Kronberg has little to peaceful daydreaming - it is harsh and aggressively gloomy. Bas-reliefs on the gates of the castle depict women with skulls in their hands, and heavy wooden doors are crowned with frighteningly grinning muzzles of monsters.

It was in this castle, according to Shakespeare, that the unfortunate Hamlet tortured himself in search of an answer to eternal questions, and it is there, somewhere in the dungeons, that the shadow of his father still does not calm down in search of a way of revenge. However, neither kings nor Shakespeare himself ever lived in Kronberg. Now it houses the Museum of Shipping and Trade. Here we say goodbye to hospitable Denmark.

Having waved the castle with our hand, we enter the ferry a minute before departure at 18-00. In 20 minutes we will arrive by ferry to the Swedish city of Helsingbor. But that would be a completely different story...

Conclusions and reasons why you should visit Denmark

Denmark is a puppet kingdom that has shown that there are no small countries. Small cozy Denmark is visually great, it has an atmosphere of peaceful peace, warmth and goodwill - everything that the Danes call short word"hygge". Some kind of fairy-tale spirit reigns in it: perhaps it was not by chance that she gave the world the great storyteller Hans Christian Andersen, on whose fairy tales more than one generation of people grew up in all corners of the Earth. It all looks like a wonderful castle with a good and kind owner who managed to create a comfortable life for his subjects. And those, in turn, respond to him with their love, non-slave attitude to work. The Danes work well and willingly pay very high taxes. They do not grumble about their fate, they understand that it will return to them a hundredfold, and will not settle in someone's swollen pockets. You involuntarily compare Denmark with your homeland and begin to understand why the Danes are rich and successful, while the Ukrainians are poor and powerless, despite the natural wealth that God has given us. The lack of a decent government and an incentive for our people to highly productive work and to a high culture of behavior is one of the reasons. The second lies in our history and character.

I saw and learned everything described by me in this essay in one day, or rather, in one working day. A lot or a little - judge for yourself. I want to come to this country for weekends and holidays, because it has everything for a good rest and interesting pastime. These are numerous sandy beaches, boat trips on boats and yachts, numerous castles and museums, the original state of "hippie" Christiania, cozy streets with homely restaurants and cafes and, of course, the famous Tivoli amusement park.

Denmark is a country for romantics. It is also for those who love the element of water, a kaleidoscope of landscapes and an almost homely atmosphere of hospitable hospitality.

Securing a loan with collateral is considered beneficial for both parties to the transaction.

For the lender

The bank receives a significant guarantee in the event of a client's insolvency. In order to return its funds, the creditor has the right to sell the provided collateral property. From the proceeds, he takes the money put to him, and returns the rest to the client.

For the borrower

For the borrower, there are both positive and negative sides of the transaction with the pledge of property. The advantages include:

• obtaining the maximum possible loan amount;
• obtaining a loan for a long period of time;
• lending money at a reduced interest rate.

At the same time, the client must remember that if it is impossible to repay the borrowed funds, he will lose his car. Sovcombank usually provides a loan secured by a car for a long period. During this time, various unforeseen circumstances may occur. Therefore, before pledging a vehicle, you should weigh your financial capabilities.

It is because of this that pledging an apartment does not always look tempting, but providing your vehicle as additional security for a bank loan is a more thoughtful and less risky business.

Sovcombank has been operating in Russia for over 25 years and is a major banking institution, which increases its reliability in the eyes of potential customers. It offers individuals a wide variety of loan products, including among consumer loans there is a loan secured by personal vehicles. This loan has its own characteristics.

Maximum amount

Sovcombank issues a maximum amount of 1 million rubles to the client on the security of his car. Money is provided only in Russian currency.

Loan terms

Sovcombank gives a loan secured by a car for no more than 5 years. In this case, the client has the right to take advantage of early repayment of the loan without applying any penalties to it.

Interest rate

If the borrowed funds for the purposes specified in the agreement exceed 80%, then the rate offered is 16.9%. If the amount of the loan received for a specific purpose is less than 80%, then the rate is increased and amounts to 21.9%.

If a citizen has a salary card in the bank, then the loan rate can be reduced by 5 points.

When concluding the proposed insolvency insurance contract, the borrower can receive a loan with an interest rate of 4.86%. With the smallest amount of credit taken by the client and the minimum term for concluding the agreement, the bank will offer a lower annual interest rate.

Such an insurance amount is paid once a year and is a salvation in the event of financial difficulties for the client.

Requirements for the borrower

A loan is provided for individuals on the following loyal terms.

1. Age. The client of the bank applying for the loan must be older than 20 and younger than 85 at the time of repayment of the last loan installment.
2. Citizenship. The potential borrower must be a citizen of Russia.
3. Employment. At the time of conclusion of the loan agreement, the client must be employed. Moreover, the experience at the last place of work should be more than 4 months.
4. Registration. Apply for a loan individual can only be registered at the location of the bank's office branch. The distance from the place of residence to the nearest office should not exceed 70 km.
5. Telephone. An important requirement is the presence of a fixed telephone number. It can be both home and work.

A vehicle pledged to a bank must meet certain conditions.

1. No more than 19 years must have elapsed from the date of manufacture of the car at the date of conclusion of the contract.
2. The car must be on the move, in good condition.
3. The pledged vehicle must be free from other pledge obligations. The vehicle cannot have a double deposit.
4. At the time of signing the contract, the car should not be a participant in the car loan program.

Required documents

Before signing an agreement with the bank, the client collects the documents required for this transaction. Moreover, both papers related directly to the borrower and documentation for the pledged vehicle will be needed.

For an individual

The borrower must provide a list of the following securities regarding himself:

• Russian passport and its copy;
• SNILS or driver's license (at the choice of the client);
• certificate of income, completed in the form of a banking institution. It indicates the amount of earnings for at least the last 4 months, taking into account all deductions, that is, income in a “net” form. The document must be endorsed by the head of the enterprise, the seal of the organization is affixed to it.
• notarial consent of the spouse. If it is issued as a guarantor, then it is additionally necessary to conclude an agreement, which specifies all the obligations of the person giving the guarantee regarding the loan received.

For a legal entity

To provide a loan to a legal entity, a significantly larger number of documents will be required. Conventionally, they can be divided into 3 groups.

1. Constituent. These include the Charter, documents on the appointment of the general director, chief accountant.
2. Financial. This package of documents includes papers on registration with the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, certificates of the status of the current account.
3. Are common. Documents on the activities of a legal entity, its partners, the main types of contracts.

Property documents

The following documents are required for the vehicle:

• vehicle passport;
• certificate of registration;
• OSAGO insurance policy.

You can apply for a car loan in several stages.

1. Before concluding an agreement, you should determine the purpose of obtaining borrowed funds and weigh your financial capabilities.
2. Applying for a loan. This can be done at the Sovcombank office or on the official website online (https://sovcombank.ru/apply/auto/).
3. Collection of documents for the client and the car.
4. After receiving the consent of the bank to apply for a loan, you must come with all the papers to the nearest branch.
5. The conclusion of the loan agreement and the signing of the mortgage on the car. Registration of these documents in Rosreestr.
6. Transfer of money by the bank to the account specified by the client.

Debt repayment methods

After receiving a loan, its timely repayment is considered an equally important issue, so it is important to clarify the possible ways.

1. You can pay the loan amount at any Sovcombank office through an operator or through a terminal or ATM of this banking institution.
2. If the client has a personal account of Sovcombank, he will be able to repay his credit obligations with the convenience of not leaving his home.
3. In any branch of the Russian Post, the client can make a money transfer by indicating the details of the bank account.
4. You can pay the amount of the debt through ATMs of other banks. Please note that in this case a fee will be charged.