The smell of fish
The ’Vadestedet’ (which was where the
ford used to be) by the river is one of Århus’
many revivifying oases. Another example is
the wooden-ships harbour where old ships,
beautifully maintained and freshly painted, are
berthed side by side. Right next to this is the
old fishing harbour, which retains the smell of
fish, and which holds one of the city’s
gastronomic temples; here the twin brothers Jesper and Michael Koch perform their culinary magic. Some of the small masterpieces created by the talented twosome can in fact be bought in the Ingerslevs Boulevard on Wednesdays and Saturdays. This is where the vegetable market is, offering an abundance of delicious vegetables.
The quiet chuckling of water
In the southern part of the city you can stroll
along the new Marselisborg Marina and take
a break at one of the outdoor restaurants
while listening to the quiet chuckling of water
– or you can go for a walk in the Marselisborg
Memorial Park and enjoy the superb view of
the Århus Bay, and of the Marselisborg Palace,
the summer residence of the Royal Family.
Behind the Marselisborg Memorial Park there is a quiet spot where you are almost certain to have the place to yourself. Further to the south of the city, among the pale green beeches in the Marselisborg woods, you find The Deer Park with roe deer and wild boar.
Taste, smell and try out history
A tour of the city’s revivifying oases naturally
also includes a visit to the ‘Den Gamle By’ (The
Old Town), which is Denmark’s National Open
Air Museum of Urban History and Culture. The
Old Town comprises 75 historical buildings and
is a living and breathing experience of what it
was like to live and work in a Danish market
town in the days of Hans Christian Andersen.
Århus – in summer and winter
Then there are of course the greenhouses
with subtropical and tropical plants, situated
in The Botanical Gardens which have slopes
which, in winter-time, are some of the most
popular toboggan runs in the city. During the
winter there is also the skating rink on the
lawn in front of the Concert Hall. And a true
Århus experience is when all the crocuses in
the City Hall Park are in full bloom in enchanting
blue, yellow and white colours – a sure sign that spring has arrived in Århus.