Munke Mose Park, Odense

From Monks’ Meadows to City Oasis

Munke Mose occupies a broad bend of the Odense River, right in the city’s heart, but its story stretches back nearly a millennium. The area once belonged to the Benedictine monks of St Canute’s Monastery, whose watermill powered Odense’s grain supply and gave the park its name. Low-lying meadows flooded in winter, turning into natural skating rinks, while in summer the land served for grazing and hay. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the municipality deliberately preserved the open space, transforming the former bog and factory grounds into a public park. Landscape architect Edv. Glæsel helped shape a design that would keep parts of the area feeling wild yet welcoming. Today, that history still lingers in the broad water surfaces, relict millpond and soft, marshy edges that make Munke Mose feel different from a conventional city garden.

Water, Islands and Grand Old Trees

Water defines the atmosphere here. The Odense River snakes through the park, widening into calm basins where ducks and swans glide between reed beds and grassy banks. Small islands, linked by low bridges, break up the views so that new perspectives appear with each few steps. The main lake near Jagtvej traces the line of the old mill dam, a reminder of the park’s working past. Around these waters stands an impressive collection of trees: oaks, hornbeam, red and copper beeches, ash, chestnut, magnolia and the remarkable ginkgo, often called a living fossil. In autumn the foliage burns gold and copper; in spring, fresh leaves frame the water with bright green. Manicured lawns roll down to the river in some sections, perfect for a picnic blanket, while elsewhere paths slip into more shadowy, almost swamp-like corners that hint at the original wetland.

Fairy-Tale Art in a Storyteller’s City

Munke Mose plays an important role in Odense’s network of Hans Christian Andersen–inspired sculptures. At one entrance, the powerful bronze seahorse fountain rears from the river with a mermaid on its back, a dynamic figure drawn from Agnete’s Lullaby. Elsewhere you may spot scenes from The Wild Swans or a version of The Little Mermaid, cleverly placed so they interact with water and greenery. These works anchor the park firmly in the identity of Andersen’s birthplace, turning ordinary strolls into a gentle sculpture hunt. They also provide a satisfying visual counterpoint to the soft landscape: dark bronze against bright grass, mythological figures framed by quiet channels and overhanging branches.

Playgrounds, River Cruises and Everyday Leisure

For many locals, Munke Mose is all about casual outdoor life. The celebrated playground, themed around the tale of Thumbelina, enlarges butterflies, lily pads, birds and fish into climbable structures where children scramble and slide amid bold colours. Nearby, Odense’s river boats depart for leisurely cruises, while pedal boats and canoes offer a more hands-on way to explore the water. On warm days, queues form at the small café and ice-cream counter near the river cruise pier, and the lawns become an informal dining room of blankets and takeaway boxes. Fitness enthusiasts jog along the riverside paths, yoga groups find flat grass under shade trees, and office workers slip into the park for a few quiet minutes beside the water.

Seasons, Events and Neighbouring Gardens

Munke Mose’s character shifts with the seasons. Spring brings flowering trees and longer light that lingers on the river. In high summer the park hums with picnics, outdoor games and student celebrations, and occasionally large gatherings such as May Day events or end-of-school traditions fill the lawns. Autumn lays a carpet of leaves along the paths, and in winter the open views make the low northern light particularly striking over the water. The park also forms a green hinge between other nearby spaces, including the H.C. Andersen gardens and Eventyrhaven. Together, these linked parks create an almost continuous belt of greenery around the historic core. Munke Mose sits at the centre of this chain: a flexible, welcoming space that can feel contemplative on a quiet morning or pleasantly sociable on a sunny afternoon, always with the gentle movement of the Odense River as its backdrop.