Hans Christian Andersen

The Hans Christian Andersen statue depicts the author seated on a terracotta base decorated with bronze relief panels at its lower section. The sculpture sits in the Rosenborg Castle Gardens as an enduring likeness of the Danish writer.

A competition among artists in 1874 led to the creation of this sculpture to mark Andersen's 70th birthday. August Saabye won the contest against nine other artists with his design.

The statue shows the author in a thoughtful pose, seated here and gazing toward visitors exploring the garden. The bronze reliefs at the base tell stories from his most famous tales and invite people to recall the stories they heard as children.

The statue stands in a public garden that is freely accessible during daylight hours throughout the year and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors can simply pass by here and view the sculpture at their own pace.

The bronze panels at the base show detailed scenes that are easy to miss if you only view the monument from the front. Taking time to walk around the sculpture reveals these fine narratives cast in metal.

Location: Copenhagen Municipality

Inception: 1880

Creator: August Saabye

Made from material: bronze

GPS coordinates: 55.68561,12.58161

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:48