Nyhavn in Copenhagen

 
  Seated in chairs or simply sitting on the wharf, this is where the Danes meet for a quick beer or for the whole lazy afternoon. Join them and later perhaps embark on one of the Canal Tour boats which run from the Nytorv end of the harbour from late April to mid September. It is still possible to get a sense of the Copenhagen's historical links with the sea when you visit Nyhavn. The harbour itself is old. The canal was originally built in 1673, and with the first salt water filling it is docked on 19 October. It soon established itself, as the place where returning sailors indulged themselves in the numerous bars, brothels and tattoo parlours which populated the area. For over three hundred years the area had a distinctly seedy reputation and it wasn't until the late seventies that the current new look got underway.   Apart from Nyhavns's maritime associations there is a literary side. It was here at number 20 that Hans Christian ANDERSEN wrote his first fairy tales in 1835 and where he lived from 1845-64 at number 67, returning in 1873 to spend the last two years before his death back in the harbour, at no. 18.   Although it is still possible to find a couple of sanitised tattoo shops and a seaman's mission among the well preserved eighteenth century houses, they are now outnumbered by the quayside bars, cafes and exclusive restaurants. Most of the action in Nyhavn takes place on the sunny northern side of the canal. The opposite side has a calmer atmosphere, with some fine old buildings including the Danish Academy of Art, antique shops and restaurants.   Characteristic restaurants along the harbour include, Leonore Christine, on the sunny side of the canal which serves gourmet French Cuisine. For a traditional Danish lunch, Nyhavn Faergekro is a good choice, with its open sandwiches and herring buffet, and for an organic alternative, Cap Horn offers a wide menu.   Today's Nyhavn is still in active use as a port, and at the far end of the harbour's streets, down towards the main harbour, you can gaze across the water towards the modernist sculptures of the Danish Architectural College, as the Bornholm ferries sail out to sea.   The growing trend for special beers has resulted in the creation of a Nyhavn Ale. It comes from the Oerbaek Brewery, founded 1906 on the island of Funen. This is one of the few remaining old breweries in Denmark, a high level of traditional craftsmanship being the base of their good beer production.   Martin S. PERSSON Senior Project Manager Mobile: +45 20 53 77 15 www.archerycopenhagen.com   Edited FITA Communication