City miniatures - this is what Odense was like
On Sankt Knud’s Square, you can discover what Odense looked like more than 1,000 years ago and again some 600 years later. The detailed bronze models depict the city in 988 and 1593, allowing you to compare a small Viking Age settlement with the thriving medieval town that followed. In just a few minutes, they offer a fresh perspective on the streets, buildings and historic landmarks that still shape Odense today.
Two cities, one location
The two city models stand side by side near Odense Cathedral, telling the story of a city transformed over the centuries. Together, they illustrate Odense’s journey from an early Viking settlement to one of Denmark’s most important towns by the end of the Middle Ages.
The models portray Odense at two points in time separated by nearly 600 years. Comparing them reveals how dramatically the city grew and how it developed around the streets that still form the heart of the city centre today.
Explore Viking Age Odense
The model from 988 depicts an Odense that was much smaller than the city we know today. The settlement clustered around the route now known as Overgade and Vestergade and consisted of farms, workshops and a few prominent buildings.
Look out for the early St Albani Church and spot the ring fortress of Nonnebakken south of the river. At the time, Odense resembled a large village more than a city, yet its central position on Funen had already made it an important trading and travel hub.
From Viking settlement to one of Denmark’s largest towns
The model from 1593 presents a very different picture. The cathedral towers above the town, development has become denser, and churches, merchants’ houses, homes and public buildings fill the streets.
By this time, Odense was among Denmark’s largest cities. The model provides a glimpse of the bustling market town that emerged during the Middle Ages while highlighting features that can still be recognised in the city today.
Discover Viking Age Odense
The city models offer a unique insight into how Odense evolved from a small Viking settlement into one of Denmark’s largest cities. Take a closer look and see if you can spot St Albani Church, Nonnebakken and the streets that continue to define the city centre.
To delve deeper into the city’s Viking heritage, follow the Viking Route and visit more of the places where archaeological discoveries, kings, churches and centuries-old stories bring the history of Odense to life.
Last updated by:VisitOdensejmjen@odense.dk
