Solvang, CA
A bit of Denmark in the fields of California

Solvang, a Fairytale Destination

Solvang

The town of Solvang in Santa Barbara County, California, was founded in 1911 by a group of Danish educators seeking a warmer alternative to bitter midwestern winters. Situated amid vast expanses of fields dotted with occasional oaks, Solvang maintains Danish traditions, including architecture, cuisine, and many customs such as weathervanes and stork statues adorning rooftops which give the village a remarkably picturesque, if somewhat incongruous appearance.

Solvang (literally "Sunny Fields" in Danish) does boast a superb climate and contains many bakeries, restaurants and shops featuring goods from Denmark and other european countries. Homage, in the form of statuary and eponymous establishments, is made to renowned Danes, including Hans Christian Andersen, Victor Borge, and fictional characters -- Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, and The Little Mermaid -- from the works of Andersen.

Solvang

Solvang

Solvang