History

Even Small Flowers Brighten up the Darkness

Posted on by Hanna

“Whatever you do, you need courage.

No matter which course you decide on, there is always someone telling you that you are wrong.

Difficulties always arise that tempt you to believe that your critics are right.

Mapping a course of action and following it to the end requires something of the same courage that a soldier needs.

Peace has its victories, but it takes courageous men and women to win them. “

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their endings.”
~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Leadership by Abraham Lincoln

Posted on by Hanna

The sky is blue today and the yellow colour of the daffodils has started to peek out.
Still, I think you should read some great quotes from Abraham Lincoln about leadership.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
~ Abraham Lincoln

“No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent”
~ Abraham Lincoln

No man has a good enough memory to be a successful liar.
~ Abraham Lincoln

You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
~ Abraham Lincoln

Wish you all a joyous Sunday and a happy new week ❤️

Who Wants a War???

Posted on by Hanna

We are in Blekinge, Sweden.

The villages around the Bridge of Fur offer beautiful country roads, wilderness trails, ancient monuments, idylls, a dozen lakes, many with fish. All in the most beautiful nature. At the bridge, the river flows briskly under towering pine trees.

The Bridge of Fur has a very special history that I love.
The story should not be compared to the horrendous aggression on Ukraine.

The Bridge over Lyckebyån is a historic place.
Here was the national border between Sweden and Denmark in 980-1658.
In ancient times, the bridge was an important meeting place for people in the border areas.

“For over 600 years, the inhabitants lived at a national border, which they perceived as a penalty of sin.
But no boundary marking could wipe out their community.
Though at every outbreak of war, they were transformed into each other’s enemies. ” Vilhelm Moberg

Hence the peasants’ peace agreements:
The parishioners of Fridlevstad in the south, and Vissefjärda in the north had promised each other not to follow their masters across the border, and not to go against each other by force or fire.

The bridge was the bridge of peace.

Elsinore, the Gate to the Rest of Scandinavia

Posted on by Hanna

The light, the sky and the sea. We are in the northeast corner of Denmark.
At the end of the snow-covered road lies Kronborg.
Elsinore, home to the buzz of history. Kronborg Castle and William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Norwegian painter, Thomas Fearnley, 1802-1842
Helsingør mod Kronborg, vinter. Date of art: 1833, oil on canvas.

Kings and Lost Lakes

Posted on by Hanna

It was on a beautiful sunny day, that I went to see the ruins of Søborg Castle. Walking on these bare fields reminds me of the lake, that once was here many years ago.

The castle was one of Denmark’s largest and best fortified castles. It was built on an islet in the lake in the middle of the 11th century and was later conquered by the Viking, King Valdemar the Great.

Now the state will restore the lake: Take a peek below the post!

It might well have been here on the old lake bed of Søborg Sø that Andersen-Lundby got his inspiration for the painting: ‘Birds on the road’.

'Birds on the road', by the Danish painter Anders Andersen-Lundby

Note

The lake is to be restored over a number of years, to attract a diverse bird life and preserve the cultural-historical values around the lake. At the same time it will be an attractive place for outdoor life and reduce nutrient leaching.

The lake has been completely drained through an extended canal system since the 1870s. It was drained for agricultural purposes. The overall water levels in the region has been lowered 6-7 meters. The pumping layer comprises almost 600 ha.

A Historic Cultural Venue

Posted on by Hanna

Today Sophienholm is considered one of the leading representatives of Danish salon life in the 19th century.

  • Sophienholm
Click to learn more about Sophienholm and the history

In The Footsteps Of A King

Posted on by Hanna

Several times I’ve seen King Frederik 7’s monogram on my walk in nature.
Or I stumble over stories that have emerged around his activities.
He was very fond of digging out burial mounds. Fortunately, he was assisted by very knowledgeable people so no harm was done.
None of which I’m aware of. But then I’m not an archaeologist either.

King Frederik the 7th of Denmark was a colourful personality.
His greatest interest was archaeology, representation and his third wife, ballerina Louise Rasmussen, Countess Danner.

Recently I visited Frederik 7′ cave in Skodsborg. It is well located overlooking the Sound and his Villa Rex.
He held gatherings in the cave and it is said that they were certainly not boring.

King Frederik 7. of Denmark (1848 – 1863)

Hamlet would approve

Posted on by Hanna

The day was incredible hot and people took the opportunity to take a swim in historic surroundings overlooking Kronborg Castle. A spectacular choice if you ask me 😎

Gurre, a Legendary Place

Posted on by Hanna

‘If God in heaven will let me have Gurre, then I will let him have Heaven.’
Because of this blasphemy, King Valdemar is doomed to ride in Gurre every night

The romance and mystery associated with Gurre is created by many great poets.
The inspiration is easy to understand when you have wandered in Gurre and experienced the silence at dusk.

GURRESONGS:


The bluish twilight now damper
every sound of sea and land,
the fleeing clouds are encamped
to rest on the edge of heaven.


Compacted to soundless weight
is the forest airy stay
and the lake’s clear waves
have cradled themselves to rest.



In the west, the sun casts
from her radiant purple dress
and pulls over the waves
and dreams of the day’s splendour.

Not the smallest leaf is moving
and call upon my senses,
Not the slightest sound is heard
that seduced the senses to dance.

No, every power is lost
in the river of dreams
and pushes me gently and silent
back to myself…

Jacobsen, J. P., Samlede Værker III, 1924-29

I did a translation of the first verse, Gurresange, despite the risk of violate the treasure from Jens Peter Jacobsen’s pen.

Gurre Castle

NOTE

Gurre Songs is written by the Danish poet; Jens Peter Jacobsen
Rainer Maria Rilke learned Danish and translated Gurre Songs to German
Twelve Tone Music inventor, Arnold Schoenberg, composed music to Jens Peter Jacobsen’s Gurre Songs (Gurrelieder premiered in 1913 in Vienna)