Denmark, The Fairy Tale Land

[Music] denmark a land rich with reminders of a history of romantic as a fairy tale once as fierce vikings they plundered the coasts of neighboring lands today they pride themselves on being the friendliest of people [Music] from castles to cottages an air of enchantment hangs over this northern wonderland even the villagers seem as enchanted as though some sorcerer had lulled its inhabitants to sleep for a thousand years water water everywhere seas yards and lakes provide both sustenance and recreation lacking great area all available land has been placed under cultivation industrious is the key word for the people of this small nation they have organized their agriculture and husbandry on a cooperative basis developed their own strains of pork and beef and have become the world's largest exporter of meatballs [Music] and what would a smorgasbord be if someone didn't take time to supply the eels danish ecclesiastical architecture is among the most beautiful of europe their unique round churches once also served as fortresses human the island where hans christian anderson was born honors the memory of the master teller of tales once christian anderson himself once said that the best fairy tales are not made up of anything they just pop up and say here i am danish villages too are so magical that they seem to have just happened that way as if they were made of candied plums and brown sugar instead of wood and stone [Music] wait where is everyone [Music] what could be more festive than a good old-fashioned country wedding with all the trainings [Music] for the names for the rich love of their own culture celebrate events of the present in the manner of the past [Music] starts next on the roofs of happy homes and apparently do their job well the skillful craft of lace making is an ancient danish art denmark proper is made up of a peninsula and over 500 islands so whatever route you take to its capital city it will probably be my water all bridges lead to copenhagen wonderful wonderful copenhagen capital of denmark this busy city of a million people grew out of the 12th century civil founded by bishop absalom its unique character has been 800 years in the naked once a medieval city has been destroyed twice in its long history by fires and once by a bombardment a city to wander in [Applause] [Music] its buildings extend from the great period of the renaissance to the modern age government has successfully retained its character and charm while making the transition to a modern metropolis [Music] fairyland abounds here brought to life in sculpture the little mermaid an anderson story overlooks the sea [Music] copenhagen is truly the city by the sea canals run right along the streets here so that one can journey into the center of the city by boats good food is available at open air markets where you can buy all sorts of fresh fish and especially eel a smurfs board delicacy [Music] these descendants of the vikings will get to the sea however they can [Music] and what's good enough for a daughter is good enough for that [Music] [Applause] in this striking city by the sea the fairy tales of the modern world have come true as well as those of the old modern styling and elegance are as much at home here as the castles of the renaissance could this be danish modern [Music] once an absolute monarchy now a democracy the much-loved royal family remains a link between modern denmark and the glories and traditions of the past the danish flag called the donna bros dates from 1219 and is the oldest national flag in the world pageantry music and deity are a danish tradition [Music] devily gardens built on the site of the city's old ramparts over 100 years old and still one of copenhagen's choicest pleasure spots here young and old native and visitor while away the summer months in a living fairyland [Music] at night it becomes a galaxy of light a living beacon of enjoyment [Music] [Applause] it is a perpetual world of entertainment and make-believe a land for the young where in a country a thousand years old the people have remained young at heart [Music] denmark is truly a modern country of imagination a land where fairy tales come to life [Music] you