Odense, city, south central Denmark, capital of Fyn County, a port on the island of Fyn. Odense is a major commercial and transportation center, linked by a deepwater canal with Odense Fjord. Principal manufactures include machinery, metal products, motor vehicles, glass, processed foods, and textiles. The city, which dates from the early 10th century, contains the Cathedral of Saint Canute, built in the 13th century, the best example of Gothic architecture in Denmark. The 12th-century Church of Our Lady is a landmark. Odense is the birthplace of the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. Population (2000 estimate) 183,912.
