The Medieval Charm of Elsinore

IT WAS THE SOUND DUES
that changed the fate of a tiny fishing village along the Øresund strait and made it one of the richest towns in Denmark. Introduced by King Eric of Pomerania in 1429, the new toll compelled every ship crossing the strait to stop at Elsinore and pay their dues. For over 400 years, the wealth amassed put Elsinore on the map. Tales of its charisma travelled, and the place was immortalised by Shakespeare in Hamlet.
It was again the Sound Dues in 1857 that changed the status of this town. With the abolishment of the shipping toll, the affluent moved out and the bustling trade came to a halt. Elsinore was forgotten-but it was never lost. The inherent medieval charm oozing from its picturesque settings made it famous once again-this time as the 'cultural city of Denmark'.
A castle or a station?
I began my day of discoveries at the Elsinore train station that was once deemed as 'the most beautiful station in Denmark. Built in 1863, the building, with its towering copper turrets and classic red brickwork, could only be equated to a typical Dutch Renaissance castle. The entrance felt like a royal ballroom with its antiquated chandelier and sweeping staircases. Descending, I almost expected a charming hero in his medieval tunic waiting by the landing and proffering his hand while saying, 'shall we, my lady??. The archaic setting of the train station had perfectly initiated me to the rustic allurement of Elsinore (or Helsingør, as the Danes call it).
Settling the Sound Dues
Outside, the cobblestone paths lined with treasures of the past vied for attention, making it difficult to pick a start. I choose to follow the path of the sailors landing at the harbour and making their way to the Skibsklarerergaarden-a trade house to settle their Sound Dues with the ship broker.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Travel+Leisure India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Travel+Leisure India.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

Hearts Aglow
The names Tahiti and Bora-Bora may telegraph romance, but on a cruise around French Polynesia, Naomi Tomky and her daughters discover these islands also make for the ultimate playground.

Let There Be Challenge
Ordinary does not make the cut with travellers anymore. Sports, thrilling activities, and pushing their limits are the new fitness and travelling goals, discovers Garima Verma

Vineyards to Valleys
Far from the beaten path, Kavitakanan Chandra discovers a different Europe in Luxembourg

Heights of Hajar
Strapped to steel cables high above Oman’s Al Hajar range, on a cliff’s edge at 2,000 metres, Garima Verma learns what it means to hold on, and when to let go

In Deep Water
In her third surf season in Kodi Bengre, along Karnataka's Udupi coast, Shivangi Vaswani watches the Indian shoreline come alive with a new generation of wave-chasing travellers

GET YOUR GAME ON
Shalbha Sarda follows how polo is galloping its way into the realm of luxury travel beyond being just the exclusive pastime of royals

COLOMBO'S CROWN JEWEL
A jewel on Sri Lanka's oceanfront, ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo, invites guests to immerse themselves in architecture, art, and culture on this emerald island.

STEEL & SPEED
From the neon dazzle of Vegas to the glamour of Monaco, Anita Rao Kashi explores Formula 1's most iconic city circuits—where speed meets culture, history and unforgettable escapes

Where Warriors Rise
Through the All Blacks Experience in Auckland, Nainaa R Rajpaal uncovers the rituals, reverence, and raw emotion behind New Zealand's most iconic team

Word To The Wise
From long-term investments in restorative tourism to building ecosystems of support, Ranjit Barthakur's work is instrumental in more ways than one. He tells Samreen Tungekar how a complete value chain around sport and tourism can emerge with the right efforts