Hans Jensensvej 6 - Tel.: +45 79 72 72 99 visitbillund@billund.dk

This small town in the fertile farmlands of Denmark's rural Jutland peninsula, about 150 miles west of Copenhagen, isn't much to write home about -- but it does boast one of the singularly most popular tourist attractions in Denmark.

It's Legoland!

Billund is home of the original version of the famous toy-based theme park that has expanded to various locations around the globe. The Billund Legoland draws more than 100,000 visitors annually.

As it's opening premise -- the gimmick that distinguishes it from all other theme parks -- much of Legoland is built primarily from those tiny colorful toy building bricks that have entertained and challenged children of all ages since 1958, when the interlocking plastic system was patented and introduced to the world market.

Denmark's Legoland was built in Billund in 1968. Since then, would-be inventors, engineers and architects, aged eight to 85, have come from around the world to see how 35-million blocks have been used to build a monument to Lego ingenuity -- by replicating in miniature so many of the world's most famous monuments and tourist attractions.

Legoland's famous Miniland, the heart of the original theme park, is an expanse of world attractions that have been re-built in miniature by extremely inventive artisans using nothing but Lego bricks.

The exhibitions are astonishing in their detail and awesome in their precision. Most are built to 1:20 scale, and there are many automated models that are run by remote control.

There are rural scenes with architecture typical of Denmark, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands and Great Britain, as well as realistic representations of Norway's fjords, Germany's Rhine River Valley and an international airport that's complete with aircraft taxiing on the runways.

Copenhagen's waterfront is re-created, with model ships loading and unloading on the docks and ferries plying real water. Then there are the canals of Amsterdam with draw bridges and the distinctively Dutch gabled houses that line the city's narrow waterways.

Of special interest to American visitors are the Statue of Liberty, the U.S. Capitol Buildings, a monument to Sitting Bull and a replica of Mount Rushmore. For Mount Rushmore, 1.5-million Legos were used to recreate the heads of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. As they were originally carved in the Black Hills of South Dakota by Danish-American sculptor Gutzon Borgium, the presidents' heads are about 60 feet from forehead to chin. At Legoland, they quite imposing at about one-tenth that height -- and still tower over many visitors.

Lego was founded in Billund in the 1930s by Ole Kirk Christiansen, a Danish master carpenter. The company's first products were blocks made of wood, but the production line was quickly expanded to include other items -- and eventually became the distinctive line of toys available today under the respected Lego trademark.

The company's name, which is derived from Christiansen's motto, the Danish "leg godt," which translates into English as "play well" is actually a fitting anthem for the themed park, as well as a marker for the company's products.

Billund is still Lego's international headquarters, and it's quite a company town. About 20 percent of the town's residents work at the company.

In the past few years, Legoland added a number of family-friendly amusement rides fit for kids of all ages -- ranging from toddlers to seniors. There are currently over 50 rides and attractions covered by the price of admission to the park.

Included in the selection are a train that slowly meanders through most of the park's attractions and gives a great overview of what you'll want to explore at closer range by foot.

In pirate-themed boat rides, you can man a cannon and douse opponents with water, while you, too, get doused. On the gentle mining-themed roller coaster takes you through dark mining areas and past the Mount Rushmore replica. The Viking River Splash is thrilling flume ride. And, there are flying carpet rides.

Additionally, there's the thrilling Dragon roller coaster that takes you through the Knight's Kingdom, an area with a medieval theme that also features the King's Castle, where live performances recount the entertaining stories about the princes and princesses of yore.

There's also a submarine ride that shows you sharks swimming around Atlantis, and a Wild West area where you can pan for gold and bake bread with Chief Longears.

One of the favorite interactive attractions for young kids is the Peugeot Traffic School, where they can learn to drive and actually get their first "real" drivers license -- which is valid throughout Legoland!

Well, not quite. You have to board Legoland's latest ride, a "dark ride" called The Temple, as a passenger. You hop on a jeep and head off for a wild treasure hunt through The Temple, a spooky environment in which there are mummies lurking in the darkness, treacherous villains and terrifying earthquakes. You're equipped with a gun, and the more targets you shoot successfully, the higher your treasure hunt score at the end of the run. It's really fun.

The ride that takes you up to the Legoland observation tower is a must, too. From the high vantage point, you can see all of Legoland and much of the town of Billund. This is a great way to begin or conclude your Legoland visit.

Of course, if you're a Lego fan, you know the original Legoland has sister parks in Carlsbad (California), Windsor (England), and Gunzburg (Germany), as well as fun Lego Discovery Centers in Chicago (Illinois), Manchester (England), Berlin and Duisburg (Germany).

While each of these locations has its own layout of attractions and particular appeal, the original park in Billund does have a unique charm. There's something about being in a place where an idea was born that has a special appeal. And, replicable as it might be, nothing in the world quite compares with the original Miniland's brilliant display and extraordinary ingenuity.