Danish folk tales. Danish Folk Tales Conclusions and Reasons to Visit Denmark

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 client insolvency. To return his funds, the creditor has the right to sell the provided collateral. From the proceeds, he takes the money due to him, and returns the rest to the client.

For the borrower

For the borrower there are both positive and negative sides transactions involving property collateral. The advantages include:

• obtaining the maximum possible loan amount;
• obtaining a loan for a long period of time;
• providing 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 loans 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 collateral for an apartment does not always look tempting, but providing your vehicle as additional collateral for a bank loan is a more thoughtful and less risky proposition.

Sovcombank has been carrying out its financial activities for more than 25 years in Russia and is a large banking institution, which increases its reliability in the eyes of potential clients. It offers individuals a wide variety of loan products, including among consumer loans a loan secured by personal transport. This loan has its own characteristics.

Maximum amount

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

Loan terms

Sovcombank provides 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 him.

Interest rate

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

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

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

This insurance amount is paid once a year and is a salvation in case of financial difficulties for the client.

Requirements for the borrower

Loans are provided for individuals on the following favorable terms.

1. Age. The bank client applying for the loan must be over 20 years old and under 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 concluding the loan agreement, the client must be employed. Moreover, the work experience at the last place of work must be more than 4 months.
4. Registration. An individual will be able to apply for a loan only if they are registered at the location of the bank’s office branch. The distance from your place of residence to the nearest office should not exceed 70 km.
5. Telephone. An important requirement is to have a landline telephone number. He can be both at home and at work.

A vehicle provided as collateral to a bank must meet certain conditions.

1. No more than 19 years must have passed since the car was released on the date of conclusion of the contract.
2. The car must be running and in good working order.
3. The pledged vehicle must be free from other collateral obligations. The car cannot have a double lien.
4. At the time of signing the contract, the car must not be a participant in the car loan program.

Required documents

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

For an individual

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

• Russian passport and its copy;
• SNILS or driver's license (at the client's choice);
• income certificate filled out in accordance with the form of the banking institution. It indicates the amount of earnings for at least the last 4 months, taking into account all deductions, that is, income in “pure” form. The document must be endorsed by the head of the enterprise, and the organization’s seal is affixed to it.
• notarized consent of the spouse. If he is registered as a guarantor, then it is additionally necessary to conclude an agreement that stipulates 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 in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, certificates on the status of the current account.
3. Are common. Documents about the activities of a legal entity, its partners, main types of contracts.

Property documents

The following documents will be required for the car:

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

You can apply for a loan secured by a vehicle in several stages.

1. Before concluding an agreement, you should determine the purpose of obtaining borrowed funds and weigh your financial capabilities.
2. Submitting an application 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 bank’s consent to apply for a loan, you must come to the nearest branch with all the papers.
5. Concluding a loan agreement and signing a mortgage on a 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, an equally important issue is its timely repayment, so it is important to clarify the possible methods.

1. You can deposit 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 at Sovcombank, he will be able to repay his loan obligations comfortably, without leaving his home.
3. At any branch of Russian Post, the client can make a money transfer by indicating the bank account details.
4. You can also deposit the debt amount through ATMs of other banks. Please note that in this case a commission will be charged.

"What cannot be taken away from a person,

So that's itabout what he saw"

(ancient folk wisdom)

We are starting a big journey through the Scandinavian countries. Arriving at dawn in the Swedish port of Istad, we quickly cross the Swedish fields with windmills by bus and approach the delicate lace of the 16-kilometer Erisonnbryn Bridge, connecting Sweden (Malmo) with Denmark. This is one of the gates to the Danish kingdom. The border runs along the middle of the bridge and is marked only by a round shield with the image of the stars of the European Union on a blue background and the inscription “Denmark”. And Denmark itself can be compared to a bridge spanning from Europe to the Scandinavian Peninsula.

A small country with a rich history

On the way, our guide begins a story about this small kingdom, noting that Denmark is so small in size, but so rich in history and attractions that you can completely cross it from end to end without finishing the story about it. The size of the territory and the peculiarities of the configuration of the country’s borders are eloquently indicated by the fact that in Denmark no one lives further than 54 km from the sea. This is one of the lowest and flattest countries in the world.

Denmark is located on the Jutland Peninsula (where the only 68-kilometer land border with Germany lies). In the 4th century, the Jutes and Angles arrived on the territory of Denmark; during the Great Migration of Peoples, they migrated to Britain, and the Jutland Peninsula was populated by Danes who came from the south of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The first information about them appears in sources of the 6th-7th centuries. The Danes were united in clan unions; by the beginning of the 9th century, they began to develop an early feudal structure of society, headed by leaders (konungs), below - the clan 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 nationalities emerged (in particular the Danish) and the Danish state was formed (10th 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 rune stone in Jelling, where the word “Denmark” appears for the first time. The Jelling stones are considered to be the “birth certificate” of Denmark. 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 developed, 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. 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 under the Treaty of Kiel. Norway's former North Atlantic possessions of Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands remained part of the Danish Kingdom, 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. Here, 5.7 million Danes live in abundance, contentedly, honoring their queen and fully 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, and 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 is $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, well-being 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 the kings has not ceased even for a day in the entire history of the kingdom. I note that all the kings of the Oldenburg and Glucksburg 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. On April 9, 1940, German troops entered Denmark and captured the country within 2 hours. According to legend, after the Nazi occupation of Denmark, Christian X, whose motto was “My God, my country, my honor,” upon learning of the order that Danish Jews must wear the yellow Star of David, asks Queen Alexandrina to attach the Star of David to his clothing as a sign of solidarity. with the Jews, saying that all Danes are equal. With the Star of David on his chest, he goes horseback riding around Copenhagen. Ordinary Danes follow the king's example, attaching yellow stars to their clothes, buildings and cars. After this the order was canceled...

Although this story is often told in the media, it never actually happened. In particular, the occupation 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 wearing of the Star of David in Denmark, “perhaps then we should all wear it.” But as a sign of gratitude, in the Israeli memorial Yad Vashem on the Avenue of the Righteous, tree No. 25 is dedicated to the People of Denmark, No. 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 since January 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 are no gossips about her similar to those that accompany the life of Buckingham Palace. The only discussion of the queen's behavior had absolutely nothing to do with her personal life. This was the period when the Danish parliament had just introduced a ban on smoking on airplanes. And Margret, an avid smoker, either out of forgetfulness or for some other reason, took it and lit a cigarette. All the newspapers were discussing whether it was possible to make an exception for royalty. The Queen does not provide any other reasons for discussion. She is generally a busy woman. Together with her husband she translates books and draws. As an artist, she designed several books (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 designer. She also fulfilled one of her main responsibilities - raising a worthy heir to the throne. According to the general opinion of his subjects, Crown Prince Henrik turned out just right. Margaret allowed her son to marry for love, which further won the love of her subjects. Her birthday in Denmark is National holiday with carnivals and fireworks.

Copenhagen - the soul of Denmark

The capital Copenhagen is located on one of the largest islands in the region - Zealand on the shores of the Erisonne 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, it is home to 1.1 million people.

Copenhagen greets us with cool weather, strong drafts, but, to our joy, without rain, which is a frequent visitor there. You can’t help but compare him to a hospitable man who hospitably opened his gates to guests in a city famous for its numerous monuments, spiers, towers and bell towers. First we visit the Church of St. Alban on the Langelinier embankment.

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

We go out to a beautiful flower park, in the center of which there is a majestic monument, at the foot of which there are cannon barrels 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 excursion continues, and we approach the place where the symbol of Copenhagen is located - the Little Mermaid, but she is not there... The guide understands and hastens to reassure: the Little Mermaid is on a “business trip”. In Beijing, at an international exhibition. And this photo is from the Internet, so as not to completely lose the main symbol of the city.

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 owner of the palace that stood here but was completely burned down - Sophie Amalienborg. Four identical buildings are located opposite each other on an octagonal square,

in the center of which stands an elegant equestrian monument to Frederick V. The buildings are surrounded by a garden separating them from the port.

We were lucky - we witnessed the colorful and solemn ceremony of changing the guard of honor. Exactly at noon, to the bravura sounds of a 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 bearskin hats.

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

I also liked the interior decoration of the cathedral.

Not far from the Marble Cathedral rises a golden-domed Russian Orthodox Church Alexander Nevsky. Its history is connected with the name of Empress Maria Feodorovna, wife of Emperor Alexander III, née Danish princess Dagmar. In 1880, the emperor ordered the purchase of a place for the construction of an Orthodox church in Copenhagen, his wife’s homeland. For its construction, 300 thousand rubles were allocated from the treasury, 70 thousand from the emperor’s personal funds. 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 museum country. Little Denmark has more than 700 museums, well-preserved ancient castles and fortresses. And all this is located on an area of ​​44 thousand square meters. km. In Copenhagen alone there are more than 60 of them. There is also the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum, and the Guinness World Records Museum, and the Postal and Television Museum, and a museum of wonders with curiosities from all over the world and with the 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 exhibition consisting of postcards, photographs, films, sculptures and other things. It will not be boring to visit the Museum of Carriages, the Museum of Theater History, the Round Tower, and the Museum of Labor. The centuries-old Danish history, numerous monuments of the past and short distances between attractions often make visitors exclaim: “This is not a country - this is a fairy tale come true!”

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

The New Carlsberg Glyptotek was founded by a great art connoisseur, the “beer king” - founder trademark"Carlsberg" by Carl Jacobsen. The museum's collection originated from his private collection. The museum exhibits works of art from various eras - from ancient to modern. The lower floor houses 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.

The museum building itself with a winter garden in the center, located close to Tivoli Park in the very center of the city, is also of interest. The first wing of the glyptothek was created by the architect Wilhelm Dahlerup and opened in 1897. Later, in 1906, it was complemented by a new wing designed by Hack Kampmann. This wing houses antique works. In 1996, the museum was expanded by the Danish architect Henning Larsen. In 2006, the glyptotek was restored again.

Rosenborg Castle and the Royal Garden are one of the jewels in the royal crown

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

As a museum, Rosenborg has a long tradition. Already in 1838, the royal storerooms were open to the public. The halls, furnished for Christian IV and Frederick IV, were restored to their original form. Life in the castle of subsequent kings is presented in rooms whose furnishings show the change in style and include furnishings from royal castles. The purpose of this was to show the national history, which, in the opinion of the time, was strongly associated with the royal dynasty. Such a chronologically arranged exhibition was a new word in museum affairs, differing from the thematic exhibitions of museums of earlier times. When Rosenborg was discovered in the 60s of the 19th century in the form in which it for the most part reached us, it attracted more public attention. The royal dynasty was represented there until the last deceased king, making Rosenborg the first museum in Europe dedicated to its time.

Particularly worth highlighting are its basement and treasury. Its exhibition 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.

We cross the Green Bridge into the Royal Garden, which was intended to entertain the king and partly to grow 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 Dutch Renaissance style has been specially preserved; moreover, walking around the garden, as well as the palace, you can trace how the fashion for the appearance of the garden, its layout and garden decorations has changed.

Each castle architect brought something different to the gardens, and the resulting area was 12 hectares. There are pavilions in the neoclassical style and a number of remarkable sculptures. Green galleries give way to neat lawns, with comfortable benches everywhere. A wonderful place to relax is no longer just for kings - since the beginning of the 18th century, the garden has been open to everyone.

City Hall Square - the heart of Copenhagen

We continue our walking tour at Town Hall Square - a large square that can simultaneously accommodate more than 100 thousand people. This happened twice in its history: the first time in 1945 after the liberation of Denmark from fascism, the second time in 1992, when the country’s national 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 “The Bull Tearing the Dragon”.

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

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

On the tower near Town Hall Square there is a figurine of a girl on a bicycle. This is a kind of weather forecaster. If it was expected to rain, a girl would go out with an umbrella.

Strøget Street is the central artery of the city

Next we stroll along Europe's longest pedestrian street, Strøget, 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, where the Danish Parliament now meets. 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, including “Caritas” - a fountain at the top of which stands a woman with children.

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

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

Strøget ends at the New Royal Square with the Christian V monument in the center. The most notable building on the square is the Royal Theatre. This is a habitat for street musicians and artists, where they remain on duty waiting for clients and “pedicabs”. The stork fountain located on it is about 100 years old.

Latin Quarter - the brain of Denmark

Turning off Strøget Street, we go in and examine the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Mary. It is very bright inside, with sculptures on the sides.

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

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

A boat ride through the blood arteries of the city

We end 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 according to the design of the royal engineer, and most of the buildings built along it have a history of more than three centuries. He is extraordinarily handsome. Ancient wooden ships peacefully rocking on the water against the backdrop of neat two- to three-story multi-colored houses huddled together is a simply unforgettable sight! In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the area around the canal was the center of trade in Copenhagen. At the port we board a windswept boat and go on a boat trip along numerous canals and straits, so we were able to see almost all the sights of the city. The first thing the guide pays attention to is the house in which Hans Christian Andersen lived and worked more than a century and a half ago.

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

We pass the state-of-the-art Royal Library building, called the Black Diamond for its brilliant black color, and a new multi-storey building with blue windows - as if hundreds of blue eyes are winking at us.

And how many small cafes and restaurants we came across on the water - we simply can’t count them! And everywhere there are calm, leisurely, friendly people. While sailing through the canals, we pay attention to the fact that modern buildings harmoniously coexist next to historical sights.

The boat approaches the shore of the famous state in the state of hippies and free artists, which in 1971 the homeless and students proclaimed as the "free state of Christiania." Located on the territory of former military barracks, the “state” is based on the principles of collectivism; cars, hard drugs are prohibited here, there are no taxes, no rent, and there is a free and bohemian life. With some apprehension and burning curiosity, Christiania is visited by an incredible number of tourists 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 simply wealthy people used to build their mansions.

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

Our acquaintance with Copenhagen ends with a walk along the canals. You can talk about Copenhagen endlessly. You don’t want to leave this city, just as you don’t want to finish your story about it, because every corner of it, every street attracts with something, surprises and opens up from a new side every time.

Bicycles - the omnipresent legs of the Danes

Copenhagen has a well-developed transport infrastructure. Thus, residents and guests of the city have access to the metro, S-train, buses, and taxis. But the life of the Danes is calm and measured, many go to work or school by bicycle. 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 dominate over cars and are free on the streets and roads. Bicycle roads are the pride of the Danes; they are maintained in an exemplary manner. There are ten roads of national importance with a length of 3,300 kilometers 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 father of the bicycle was the Dane Petersen. There are 120 bicycle racks in Copenhagen. You approach the parking lot, throw a 20-crown coin into a special slot - and the bicycle is at your service. Once you've ridden, you go to any parking lot, put your bike in the rack - and 20 crowns comes out, i.e. you use the bike completely free. In the center of Copenhagen you can also find pedicabs.

Kronberg Castle - gateway to the Danish kingdom

Leaving the city, which simply enchanted us in such a short time, we head to the city of Helsingor, located forty kilometers from Copenhagen. In this city there is Kronberg Castle.

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

It was in this castle, according to Shakespeare, that the unfortunate Hamlet tormented himself in search of answers to eternal questions, and it was there, somewhere in the dungeons, that his father’s shadow still cannot calm down in search of a way to take 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.

After waving our hand at the castle, we board the ferry a minute before departure at 18:00. In 20 minutes we will take a ferry to the Swedish city of Helsingboar. But that will be a completely different story...

Conclusions and reasons to visit Denmark

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

I saw and learned everything I described in this essay in one day, or rather, in one working day. Much or little - judge for yourself. She wants to come to this country on weekends and holidays, because it has everything for a good rest and have an interesting time leisure These include numerous sandy beaches, boat trips on boats and yachts, numerous castles and museums, the original “hippie” state of 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 warm hospitality.

DENMARK(Kingdom of Denmark) is a state in Northern Europe, on the Jutland Peninsula and the islands of the Danish archipelago (Zealand, Lolland, Falster, etc., as well as the island of Bornholm). The islands are connected to each other by numerous bridges and ferry crossings. 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 is 43 thousand km 2 (without the Faroe Islands and Greenland). Denmark's population of 5.38 million people (2003) consists almost entirely of Danes. The official language in Denmark is Danish. Capital - city Copenhagen.

In the 5th and 6th centuries, the Danes came from the south of Sweden to the Jutland Peninsula, inhabited by Jutes, Angles, Saxons and Teutons. The Danes took part in the Viking sea campaigns, 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, Danish kings conquered Norway and England (Canute I the Mighty), but the kingdom fell apart a few years later.

Denmark in the Middle Ages fought 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. Denmark took part in the Thirty Years' War 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 ceded to Sweden. In the Napoleonic Wars, Denmark took the side of France and was bombed by the British fleet. The continuation of the Napoleonic wars was the war with Sweden in 1813-14. Denmark gave Norway under Swedish rule (without Iceland), and after the Prussian-Austrian-Danish War of 1864-66. lost Schleswig and Holstein. In 1918, Iceland gained autonomy, remaining in a personal union with Denmark until 1944.

During World War I, Denmark remained neutral. In 1920, North Holstein was returned to her as a result 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.

Danish culture is very diverse. But if you try to highlight something, then in first place, of course, will be the tales of the great Danish writer and storyteller Hans Christian Andersen. Anyone, especially a child, remembers his “Thumbelina”, “The Ugly Duckling”, “The Snow Queen”, “The Little Mermaid” and others. Andersen's fairy tales combine romance and realism, fantasy and humor, a satirical element 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 not interest you less fairy tales Andersen.