Visit the real home of the Vikings this summer

As ’Faintheart’, the romantic comedy set in the world of Viking battle re-enactments and staring Ewen Bremner and Jessica Hynes, hits our screens this September, families visiting Denmark this summer can get to see in advance what life was really like as a Viking, through re-enactments and events at some of Denmark’s best preserved Viking settlements. Here’s a taste of what’s on offer across the country.

At Lindholm Høje, just outside Aalborg in North Jutland, visitors will find Scandinavia’s largest Viking burial ground with more than 700 graves. It dates from the late Iron Age and was covered by drifting sand from about AD 1000 so the site has remained very well preserved and has an excellent museum displaying many of the finds. Events and activities are held throughout the year with one of the largest being the annual Viking Market on 28 and 29 June 2008, when volunteers recreate Viking clothing, tools and weapons.

See LindholmVikingespil.dk

On 26 – 27 July 2008 at the Moesgård Museum on the outskirts of Aarhus in East Jutland, battle will commence with re-enactments by archers, warriors and horsemen showing off their skills at the annual Viking Moot, Moesgård Beach. This also marks the largest Viking market in Scandinavia and dates back to the Middle Ages when a fair was held each year in Aarhus on 29th July, St Olaf’s Day. Market stalls offer a wealth of articles, and craftsmen will be producing items of iron, wood, leather, silver, wool, amber, glass and willow. Visitors can also try their skills at different activities including Archery and enjoy a taste of authentic Viking cooking over open fires.

See moesmus.dk

In addition, each Saturday and Sunday from 26 June to 28 August 2008, a Viking City Market will be set up in the centre of Aarhus where visitors can also see the city’s newly refurbished Viking Museum.

See visitaarhus.dk

This summer at Jels in South Jutland the ancient tradition of the ‘Viking Chronicles’ will once again be brought to life with performances taking place from 4-20 July. This year the theme is ‘Dannernes Konge’ and will see colourful pageants of spectacular scenes, fierce sword fights and stories re-enacted in the open air amphitheatre.

See jelsvikingespil.dk

Fencing, archery and range of ancient games are on offer throughout the summer to visitors of the Ulvsborg Historiske Værksted (historical workshop) near Holbaek in Northern Sealand. There is also the chance to see the old herb garden and ancient breeds of Skudde sheep and Icelandic “landnáms” hens, as well as the castle keep which has recently been restored.

See ulvsborg.dk


Or for the largest collection of Viking ships in Denmark, set sail for the Viking Ships Museum in Roskilde, close to Copenhagen in Northern Sealand (open all year). Visitors can see five of the 11th century Viking ships that were excavated from the Roskilde Fjord and at the museum’s harbour there is a large collection of Viking ships and other Nordic boats where visitors can try their hand with the oars and sails and get a feel for what life was like at sea.

See vikingeskibsmuseet.dk

Also worth keeping in mind is the return of Viking ship the SeaStallion to Roskilde on 9 August after a 1,400-nautical-mile and a 6-week long voyage from Dublin in Ireland. To celebrate the homecoming, a Viking market with Viking stalls, re-enactments of Viking warriors fighting and fun Viking games, etc. will take place 9-12 August, 10:00 am–5:00 pm outside the Viking Ship Museum as well.

See eastallion.dk

Close to Roskilde is the Lejre Experimental Centre, where recreations of Stone Age, Iron Age and Viking settlements bring to life the daily routine of these ancient cultures with authentic demonstrations by skilled Viking women and Iron Age men, at this open air park and educational centre. Visitors can also help out grinding flour, churning butter and chopping wood, whilst children can go messing about on the river in dug out canoes at ‘Camp Fire Valley’.

See english.lejre-center.dk

90 minutes south of Copenhagen is Nykobing Falster, on the island of Falster, where the clock has been turned back to 1396 at the medieval centre of Sudkobing. Here ropemakers, blacksmiths and other craftsmen can be seen in action alongside dueling jousters who dice with death in daily demonstration. Throughout the summer the ‘Trebuchet’ or medieval catapult is fired each day. Visitors can also see the evening shows in July and August and sample medieval recipes at the authentic Inn.

See middelaldercentret.dk

Getting there

Getting to Denmark from the UK has never been easier! DFDS Seaways (dfds.co.uk) sails from Harwich to Esbjerg, while Sterling (sterling.dk), SAS (flysas.com) and Ryanair (ryanair.com) fly to various Danish gateways from several UK airports.

For more information on Denmark including the latest offers go to Visitdenmark.com.