Hear the story of this young Frenchman, employed as a waiter for a period of 18 months in Otterup Hotel, near Odense on the island of Funen. He was so enthralled by his discovery of the Kingdom of Denmark that he felt he had to share his enthusiasm with his fellowcountrymen. His name is Laurent Minguely. He is so receptive to the country that the absorbed the Danish language in just 4 months. If you could speak to him he would tell you how he was - and still is - wonderstruck.

Laurent told us how he experienced a two days' unique voyage - for an affordable price - on a real Viking sailing longship, going from one island to the next. There are bicycles available to visit the small islands, for hire at the landing places, and each one of the islands is like a living legend.
The exoticism is fantastic. The inhabitants, the people's behaviour, the nature, it all makes the difference with the other countries.

Denmark is said to be the oldest kingdom in the world and dates back to the 10th century.
In the Middle Ages the Danes were known as Vikings and they explored and raided the whole of Europe. They even conquered England and many other places, including Iceland and French Normandy.
In the 14th century Denmark absorbed the kingdoms of Norway and Sweden into the Kalmar Union.
The Kingdom of Denmark went through a cultural revival in the course of the 19th century, both in art and literature.
During the second world war Denmark was invaded and occupied by the Germans. After the war the social democrats developed the Scandinavian model welfare state.

Denmark has been a member of the European Union since 1973. In 2006 a survey found Denmark to be the happiest place in the world, based on standards of health, welfare and education.

The most famous Dane is writer Hans Christian Andersen, whose tales have been translated all over the world. Carl Dreyer is a film director; many of his films have been considered masterpieces.
Carlsberg beer is a danish product. Shakespeare's Hamlet was a Danish prince. The Danes have also produced the Lego toys, celebrated in amusement park Legoland, near Billund in Jutland.

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With a population of 5.4 million inhabitants, this small country (13 times smaller than France) is composed mainly of two large islands (there is a total of 400 islands) and a larger peninsula north of Germany. The only land border is 67 km long. The coastlines of Denmark are particularly shattered. According to all guidebooks the countryside is levelly flat (you may have a different opinion when cycling), with a succession of small undulating hills. There are numerous woodlands and over 400 lakes are scattered throughout the country.
Jutland is a peninsula stretching over 338 km in length from north to south, and with the addition of the islands in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea the total seashores amount to over 7,000 km. The main islands are situated between Jutland and Sweden. Zealand (Sjælland), where the capital Copenhagen (København) is located, is the largest island.

Denmark owns two territories in the North Atlantic : the Faroe Islands and Greenland, both now autonomous lands.

Danish is the official language, although there is a small german speaking minority in south Jutland.

Denmark's capital is situated on Zealand and Amager islands, and the country is governed from Slotsholmen, sometimes called Castle Island, home to Denmark's Parliament in Copenhagen harbour.

Denmark is renowned as one of the first agricultural countries in the world. But Danish industry is also important, especially for oil and natural gas.

Denmark is equally famous for being the Children's Kingdom, whose world known heritage is the Little Mermaid, and more recently the Lego toys.