Hi everyone,

I’ve been reading the tale “Fra et Vindue i Vartou” by H. C. Andersen (by the translation “By the Almshouse Window” of course).

I’ve googled and found “the real Vartov”: [https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vartov](https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vartov)

I wondered that the “Vartou” in the tale and that real “Vartov” are the same place, meaning that Vartou = Vartov, meaning that in this case with Danish language “u” can replace “v”, or Andersen just use an anagram and Vartou is not Vartov?

I don’t know Danish and English is not my mother language so please forgive me if i made any mistake in the post.

Thank all of you for sharing your thoughts!

5 comments

  1. Correct

    Vartou is an older way of spelling Vartov that was used in Andersen’s time.

    It’s no longer used in the Danish version unless the story in full is printed in its original language and spelling.

  2. That is the Vartov written about. It is Vartov just by the city wall (“ud til den grønne vold”) which ran along this street.

  3. It gives almost the same pronounciation but not exactly the same. The way of writing and spelling has changed through time

  4. There are many examples of u being replaced by v.

    The city I grew up in, is named “Blovstrød” but many of the older signs stills says “Bloustrød”

    Same goes for “Havnstrup/Haunstrup” – “Hov/Hou” – “Skov/Skou” etc.

    Generally using u is an older way of spelling – Like “AA” = “Å” (Århus or Aarhus)

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