Karen Blixen Museum, Rungstedlund
Karen Blixen (real name Karen Christenze Dinesen) is one of Denmark’s most celebrated authors. She wrote books in both Danish and English and is best known for Out of Africa, an account of her life while living in Kenya, and Babette's Feast, both of which were adapted into Academy Award-winning films.
An author’s childhood home
Karen Blixen was born in 1885 and died in 1962, but her memory lives on in her works and also this unique museum, opened in 1991 to honour her life and memory. You’ll find it on the site of her home growing up in Denmark, still virtually almost intact with the furniture from her childhood, as well as objects brought back from Kenya.
Experience the atmosphere of the rooms in which her well-known and beloved tales came into existence. You can also enjoy the many beautiful fresh flowers throughout the house, just as they were when Karen lived there.
Birdsong and wild flowers
The stunning garden grounds, with its 15-hectare bird reserve, attracts researchers and nature lovers from home and abroad. It is free to access and was established in 1958 by the author herself.
Here, too, walked the poet Johannes Ewald who has a hill named after him, and the park’s benches are named after others who once strolled its grounds for inspiration. You can even meet Karen Blixen herself. At the foot of Ewald’s Hill, you will find her grave beneath a large beech tree. The park is always open to visitors, who are invited to take a little walk and enjoy its beautiful natural setting. Nesting boxes are set up in the grove, and the space has become a breeding ground for many birds.
Cultural hub
The Karen Blixen Museum has a rich program of events and is a meeting place for those interested in culture and literature. All year round, writers, artists, researchers and politicians are invited to talk about some of the current topics in Danish culture, which has always been a thread to Karen Blixen's timeless writing.
When you’re there, you should also visit Madam Carlsen Café and Bistro, serving French-inspired dishes as well as a selection of wine, coffee, tea and cake.
Getting there
The Karen Blixen Museum is about an hour north of Copenhagen by train. There’s a DSB train from the Central Station to Rungsted Kyst every 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can drive there in just over 30 minutes, via the E47 route. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can cycle in under 90 minutes along the coast via Route 152.