Skagen, Denmark: Sun, Sand and Snow
Being the Danish nation’s northernmost town, Skagen is
known for the Skagen Odde peninsula located in the North Jutland Island. The
town also houses the world largest fish oil factory. The sand and fish port
factors make vacations to Skagen peninsula a very unique experience. This has
been made more special during my visit in the winter season in February when
spring pauses occur. Thus, my short trip became a combination of sun, snow and
sand in Skagen.
Skagen Fyr
The Skagen Lighthouse was a reconstruction of the
White Lighthouse, which is primarily used for exhibitions nowadays. This
lighthouse has been useful in preventing invasion of the Danish capital
Copenhagen by Western countries like the Great Britain.
This is Denmark’s northernmost tip where
the North Sea and the Baltic Sea meet. Grenen literally means the branch,
showcases a very beautiful landscape and sea horizon.
It is a wagon pulled by a tractor carrying people who
want to visit Grenen in Skagen from the parking lot and out to the branch.
This is where the urn of the famous poet and painter
Holger Drachmann is set up. Drachmann is one of the artists in Skagen which comes
closest to the city's population and its sincere interest in their life and he
is known and loved by both fishermen and the city's other citizens.
These bunkers were used primarily in the World War 2.
This area is a place for nature walks and most of the original bunkers were
already removed before.
This street highlights the typical Skagen houses with
red-tiled roof with white trimmings, yellow walls and white fences. These
houses were plundered by the Swedes in a war against the neighboring nation.
This street is where many establishments were put up
by the Skagen Painters, who are considered impressionists, inspired by the landscape
of the Skagen Peninsula.
This is part of the Old Skagen district Højen, which
is located next to the Nordstrand. This is where the Hotel Ruth’s Hotel which
is famous for French cuisine. Interestingly, the houses are made of sand bricks, which clearly abounds in the Danish town.
This beautiful coastline is a perfect for sunset.
There is also hill where one could see the landscape of the peninsula and
neighborhood of the typical Skagen houses of the old town district.
After the Old skagen church was demolished due to
expanding sand dunes, the Skagen Church was built. This church with a Baroque
spire has been transferred from the former Skagen municipality to the
Frederikshavn municipality.
This is found in the central district of the new town
district. This showcases a square where people could gather. It is said that
tourists flock to Skagen most during the summer season.
Skagen is not just a major fishing port known for
herring, it is also a tourism hub attracting annually two million individuals
to the small town.
The Skagen Fish Restaurants is a famous area for
seafood restaurants in Northern Jutland. These restaurants serve shrimps, herring,
grilled fillets and Norwegian lobsters.
This is where ships are located. A walk on the street
provides a good view of the Skagenhavn and the seaport.
This buried Gothic-styled church was first built in the 14th century as the old Skagen Church, dedicated to Saint Lawrence of Rome.
However, due to the expanding sand dunes engulfing the
nearby regions, the church was demolished leaving the present day whitewashed
tower.
This is Northern Europe’s largest migrating and expanding coastal sand dunes between the towns Skagen and Frederikshavn. The sand dunes were originally located west of the peninsula about 300 years ago.
In the start of the 19th century, the
Danish government purchased the nearby land areas to plant dune grasses and
conifers to stabilize the sand dunes.
This highway connects Skagen and several towns within
the Frederikshavn municipality. This highlights the breathtaking flat terrain
of the Danish northern landscape.
Breathtaking is an adjective that describes Skagen. Personally, Skagen provides me an impression of a tropical place, with a unique Scandinavian touch. It is also interesting how this northernmost tip Danish town has played a crucial role in the geo-political situation of the region, being a frontline on busy maritime straits between the Scandinavian peninsula and the entire European continent. Indeed, Skagen will forever have special tourism charm that will continue to attract different people from various parts of the world.
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