Dyrehaven Og Bakken!

One of the things I love so much about Denmark is the accessibility to parks, and historical places, including places still owned by the royal family. To have access to the winding walks of such estates is terrific, particularly as the weather here in Denmark warms up. I have grown to love meandering down garden paths, so it shouldn't too surprising that in the warm weather my plans consist of enjoying the natural beauty of Denmark.

On Wednesday Ole and Birgitte had planned an adventure for the four of us, and I only knew when we pulled up to a great red gate where we were headed. Dyrehaven is a park that was established to be the location of Royal deer hunts. Complete with a majestic hunting lodge called Eremitageslottet and a countless number of deer, this great estate is open to the public.

(Walking up to Eremitageslottet)

(one of many groups of deer we saw while on our walk)

Yet this is not the only thing one can stumble upon in the woods of Dyrehaven, for in 1583 the first amusement park in the world opened its gates, on the edge of this Royal hunting ground. This amusement park called Bakken, or Dyrehavsbakken, is truly "magical". The ambiance which is created by walking through the forest of Dyrehaven to Bakken past a Royal hunting lodge, deer, and horse drawn carriages is quite unique.

(one of the paths to Bakken)

I could tell by the sounds of merriment that we were nearing Bakken, far before I could see it through the trees. And then suddenly it emerged from the woods, complete with the old world charm of a horse drawn carriage dropping off a family. (horse drawn carriage is to the left in the above picture)

As always in places like this I become a little kid again. Wide eyed at the world around me, still trying to contemplate an amusement park in the woods.

(my celebratory ice cream marking our trip to Bakken as well as the coming of warmer weather to Copenhagen - complete with a flødebolle)

Ole, Birgitte, my Mom, and I acquired some ice cream and walked around Bakken. We slowly took in the happiness in children's faces, as well as the excitement in both adults and children alike.

For those akin to me, who love old world charm but still love a good carnival, Bakken is the perfect place. While Disney world may have the latest and greatest plastic models of your favorite movie character, I prefer the walk through the woods, past a royal hunting lodge, horses and deer to get to a wooden roller coaster, from which the view is just tree tops.

Vi Ses!