painters who were drawn to the area by the unique quality of its light. With the highest number of sunshine hours in Denmark, fantastic stretches of untouched beach and exceptional cuisine, its attractiveness remains equally compelling today.
For a visual exploration into the town’s history and the heart of this artistic movement, a visit to the
Skagens Museum is a must. Housing more than 1,800 works of art by Skagen’s artists in the very surroundings in which they were painted, their dramatic canvases capture the plight of weatherworn fishermen, as well as more idyllic scenes of the artists at leisure, providing an enlightening insight into this period. Walking around the restored fishermen’s houses and exhibits on fishery, life saving and shipping at the cultural history museum
‘Skagen By- og Egnsmuseum’ also provides a fascinating look into the courage of the local seafarers and their ongoing battle with sea.
To find out more about natural forces that have shaped Skagen, hire a bicycle and follow the trail of lighthouses out to Grenen - Denmark’s most northerly and ever shifting point- where the two seas of Skagerak and Kattegat meet. Having stood with a foot in each ocean, head to the buried 14th century church Den Tilsandede Kirke to see how the powerful migrating sands played havoc on the land. Then stop at the
Skagen Odde og Naturcenter on the way back into town to learn more about the shifting sands, luminous light and wild seas. Strikingly designed by world famous Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who also designed the Sydney Opera House, this museum also has changing exhibitions from well-known Scandinavian artists.
For another look at the local architecture, head down to the bustling port and the colourful old fish warehouses that were designed by Thorvald Bindesbøll, who is best known as the creator of the Carlsberg label. Catch the early