at home with elvis

Friday, January 9, 2015 DAILY ECHO
26
Travel
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SHORT BREAKS
FROM the outside it looks very
much like Gracelands.
The famous metal gates with
their music note motif are there, as
is a replica of the King of Rock ’n’
Roll’s first home, the tiny but
comfortable shack sitting on the
pathway that leads towards the
colonial-style Southern facade of
the main house.
A statue of Elvis graces a small
garden, the inevitable piped music
of the great man in action wafts
through the grounds.
Only the roar of traffic at the
adjacent highway interchange
indicates this is not Gracelands,
Memphis, the famous home of the
world’s most famous rock and roll
legend. This is in fact Gracelands,
Randers, Denmark, a small town a
couple of hours’ drive from
Copenhagen and the vision of one
man.
Henrik Knudsen grew up in
Randers and from the earliest age
all he ever listened to was Elvis. It
was inevitable that as a fan he
would start collecting memorabilia.
Small items at first – the very first
an autograph of The King.
Today his collection amounts to
some 200,000 pieces. His job as a
sales agent for a tools company
put to one side, he realised he
could turn his self-confessed
obsession into a way to make a
living. Trips to the US followed and
as the collection grew Henrick’s
mind turned to how he could
create a permanent home to
attract visitors. Graceland,
Randers was the natural result, he
says, of such deliberations.
After securing some £3m to fund
the project he found his home
town was keen to host the
attraction. Its doors opened in
2011 and since then Elvis fans
from around Europe have beaten a
path to its ornate doors, 120,000
in the last year.
“We have an international
appeal,” Henrik told me during a
visit. “Americans particularly love
it, they see it as celebrating part of
their culture I believe.”
That may not be universally the
case, with Henrik admitting the
Elvis estate are not keen on his
creation.
“I think they are just kicking
themselves that they didn’t think
of it first,” he added.
Once inside Gracelands, Randers
the visitor quickly realises this is
not a replica of the home itself.
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dailyecho.co.uk
In the week when Elvis would have been celebrating his 80th birthday
and with the opening of an exhibition dedicated to him at London’s
O2 Arena, Editor in Chief Ian Murray reports how anyone wanting to
continue their encounter with the late King of Rock ’n’ Roll have only
to make the short journey to Denmark to find out how one man has
created a life-sized replica of Gracelands in Europe
Founder
Henrik
Knudsen
AT HOME WITH ELVIS
While the facade of the main
house has been painstakingly recreated, the interior on the ground
floor is in fact an American diner
and gift shop. Upstairs there is a
function room that has become
popular with weddings. It is the
basement area that fans and the
curious flock to see. Here some
6,000 items of Elvis memorabilia
are on show.
From clothes and footwear,
letters and music, sofas and even
a bumper car, the space is
crammed with the tasteful, the
tasteless, the tacky and the
wonderful that either played a part
If you’re looking to hit the slopes this winter but don’t
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For the ultimate rustic-chic experience: Hotellerie
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Situated high above the resort of Champoluc, tucked
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There is a fantastic spa with an indoor pool, sauna
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for seven nights including scheduled flights,
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transfer.
in The King’s life until his untimely
death in 1977 or was forged from
his legend.
For Elvis fans it is wonderful.
For those just curious it is
nevertheless remarkable. As a
testimony to one man’s obsession
it is phenomenal.
And among the many English
visitors Gracelands, Randers has
attracted has been at least one
Elvis: singer songwriter Elvis
Costello who dropped in after
playing a concert nearby.
“He told me he really liked it,”
Henrik assured me. I feel certain
he did.
For a state of the art wellness centre: Omnia,
Zermatt, Switzerland
Imagine a traditional mountain lodge with a
contemporary twist. Located in the very heart of
Zermatt, perched 45m high on a rock above the town,
the beautiful south facing sun terrace and restaurant
offers amazing views of the Matterhorn. The wellness
centre is state of the art with an in/outdoor swimming
pool and whirlpool surrounded by enormous glass
windows to enjoy the magnificent views. The typical
idea of a mountain lodge has been reinvented in
architecture, design, materials and craftsmanship to
reflect the modern alternative.
For the perfect blend of Alpine charm, comfort and
efficiency: Valluga Hotel, St Anton, Austria
Originally built in 1952, this hotel has been lovingly
restored to its original charm with an exciting modern
twist. Its impressive facilities include a spa with a
selection of beauty treatments, massages, four different
saunas and a well-equipped techno gym, this hotel is a
information
l More information about Gracelands,
Randers at gracelandsranders.dk
l Norwegian airlines have flights to Aalborg
which is a one hour drive from Randers:
Norwegian.com
l Stay at the marvellous historic Fladbro
Kro, a celebrated Danish Inn just ten minutes
from Randers city centre and Gracelands
Randers. Next to the Randers Deer Park, the
Inn is a delightful base to explore the region
on foot, bike or by car. The Danish writer
hans Christian Andersen visited the Inn and
the restaurant is included in the famous
White Guide for the best restaurants in
Denmark. fladbrokro.dk
perfect place to spoil yourself after a day on the slopes.
The rooms are designed to be spacious but cosy and
the vast comfortable lounge area is ideal for chilling out
to play games, chat or sit back, relax and sip an afterski Glühwein in front of the fire. From £1,295pp for
seven nights including scheduled flights,
accommodation, bed & breakfast catering, private
transfer. The Valluga Hotel is also available for four
night short breaks from £795pp.
For luxurious self-contained spacious suites:
Summit Boutique Hotel, Whistler, Canada
Relax and rejuvenate with all the comforts of home.
Each self-contained spacious suite comes complete
with kitchenettes, fireplaces and balconies so you can
chill out after a hard day on the slopes and enjoy the
view. Beautifully decorated with unique features such
as granite countertops, custom designed cherry wood
furnishings, custom tiling and original artwork. Facilities
include an outdoor heated pool, hot tub and a spa and
sauna to help soothe any aches and pains. From
l Also while in Randers, visit the famous
Randers Rain Forest: Randers Regnskov. A
superb animal attraction where bats and
even snakes are free to slither and wing their
way around guests in some enclosures. Not
to be missed. regnskoven.dk
l Dine at the historic Randers Hotel in the
Cafe Mathisen set in the old city itself.
Wonderful food and service and a prime view
of the old narrow streets and their comings
and goings. Don’t miss a visit to the hotel
lobby with its dramatic wall coverings and
take a peep in the Gauguin Banqueting
Room that was decorated by Jean Rene
Gauguin, Paul Gauguin’s son. Tarry in the bar
if you have time and take in the local gossip.
hotel-randers.dk
£1,195pp for seven nights including scheduled flights,
room only accommodation and shared transfers.
Prices based on per person with two sharing a
standard room.
For five star luxury and fantastic Italian food: Nira
Montana, La Thuile, Italy
Situated in the heart of Europe’s highest mountains,
with Mont Blanc as a towering backdrop, this resort is
in the north-western part of the Aosta Valley, near the
French border.
You can get back to nature exploring the 160km of
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pure opulence in the spa with a range of bespoke
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Enjoy the finest Italian cuisine from the a la carte
service and signature cocktails inspired by the contrast
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hotel. The resort is perfect for all ages and abilities as it
has a variety of different slopes for varying skill levels.