Vestergade No 18 鈥� H. C. Andersen's Former Residence, Copenhagen

Back on September 6th, 1819, a lanky 14-year-old named Hans Christian Andersen arrived in Copenhagen for the very first time. Dreams in tow and absolutely no idea where he鈥檚 going鈥攈is confidence was never in short supply. Andersen checked into the Garderg氓rden inn at Vestergade 18, a humble little spot he stumbled upon by tailing some unsuspecting travelers through Vesterport. Bold move? Definitely. Budget-friendly? Temporarily. He bunked in a tiny room until his money ran out鈥攚hich, let鈥檚 be honest, didn鈥檛 take long.

He didn鈥檛 know a soul in the city, but in true fairytale fashion, he believed鈥攐r knew, rather鈥攖hat this bustling town would be the launchpad for his greatness. And it was.

Now, Vestergade, where Andersen first crash-landed, is no random stretch of road. Most of its buildings sprouted up after the big fire of 1795, but the street itself is a seasoned traveler鈥攊t dates back to the Middle Ages. Back then, it was the western artery, connecting Old Square (once the most important city square) to the Western City Gate.

In the 1930s through the '50s, city planners tried their best to modernize it鈥攚iden it, straighten it, make it less quirky. But locals and preservationists weren't having any of it. Thanks to their efforts (and some healthy civic stubbornness), Vestergade still holds onto its old-school charm and medieval wiggle. It鈥檚 a crooked little time capsule鈥攋ust the way Hans would have remembered it.

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Sight Name: Vestergade No 18 鈥� H. C. Andersen's Former Residence
Sight Location: Copenhagen, Denmark (See walking tours in Copenhagen)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Copenhagen, Denmark

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