A Viking Travel Guide to Norway

From ships to church buildings to residing historical past, immerse your self in Norse historical past and tradition with this Viking journey information to Norway.

Profitable TV collection corresponding to Vikings, The Final Viking and Norsemen have propelled Norse tradition into the mainstream like by no means earlier than.

This interprets into tourism curiosity, with vacationers trying to study extra concerning the true tales hidden behind the trendy interpretations. Norway is a superb alternative to begin your journey into the previous!

An introduction to the Viking Age

The Norsemen had been merchants, raiders, warriors and explorers. Because of wonderful crusing and navigational talents, the Vikings had been possible the primary Europeans to find North America.

Primarily based in what we now name Scandinavia, Viking settlements quickly sprang up far and large. However probably the most spectacular Viking history stays again right here in Scandinavia.

There’s one draw back. The most important websites of curiosity are unfold all around the nation, so seeing them multi functional journey isn’t possible for most individuals. The flipside is that wherever you’re in Norway, you gained’t be removed from a Viking website.

Listed here are a number of must-see Viking museums and different related sights round Norway.

Viking burial ships

Three Viking burial ships relationship again to the ninth century play the starring function at Oslo’s Viking Ship Museum on Bygdøy peninsula. The ships had been uncovered alongside the Oslofjord and one of the best of the bunch, the Oseberg ship, was discovered utterly intact.

As spectacular because the vessels are, arguably extra attention-grabbing are the opposite reveals that take you on an eye-opening journey via on a regular basis Viking life: sleds, beds, wooden carvings, instruments, and extra.

Sadly, the museum is now closed for an in depth renovation and extension. It is going to open in 2025 because the Museum of the Viking Age.

The Oseberg Ship was uncovered close to Tønsberg, one in every of Norway’s oldest cities. Tønsberg is the start line of the Vestfold Viking Path, a collection of historic settlements and burial mounds from the Viking Age dotted alongside the Oslofjord.

Whereas the unique Oseberg ship is on show in Oslo, Tønsberg is residence to a full-scale duplicate moored within the harbor. It was constructed to the unique specs utilizing solely instruments and methods from the Viking period.

Sadly, you possibly can’t take a experience in it, because the boat is barely taken out of its mooring for particular occasions, however you possibly can get pleasure from seeing an genuine Viking ship within the water!

One of the best time to go to is September for the Tønsberg Viking Festival, stuffed with reveals, theater, music, meals, and an armada of ships setting sail.

Church buildings and cathedrals

Church buildings aren’t the primary buildings that spring to thoughts in relation to Vikings, however they do play an essential function within the historical past. Norway grew to become a Christian nation within the early Center Ages, and it was the final Viking kings who made that occur.

Cathedrals and church buildings had been shortly constructed throughout the nation. The structure of Norway’s distinctive rural stave churches used lots of the similar methods that the Vikings used of their shipbuilding.

Though greater than 1,000 stave church buildings as soon as stood throughout Norway, there are actually simply 28. Lots of the elaborate carvings function Norse symbols, exhibiting that these constructing the church buildings weren’t fairly able to abandon their pagan heritage!

One other non secular website of observe is Trondheim’s Nidaros Cathedral. It started its life as a easy wood chapel constructed to face over the tomb of Saint Olav, the Viking king who performed an enormous function within the introduction of Christianity and would go on to turn out to be the patron saint of Norway.

At this time, it’s one of many nation’s most well-known buildings and a serious vacationer attraction.

Viking experiences

church buildings and museums is all properly and good, however nothing beats a extra hands-on expertise to really get a flavour of the Viking lifestyle. With experiential journey an growing pattern worldwide, Norway has loads to supply on this space!

Lofotr

Anybody who’s traveled just lately on the Hurtigruten could have been supplied the chance to go to Lofotr Viking Museum. Right here on the Lofoten islands, archaeologists discovered the most important longhouse ever found.

A reconstructed longhouse based mostly on the discover is now residence to demonstrations of handcrafts, woodcarvings, textiles, and an entertaining night banquet hosted by the chieftain and his spouse.

Gudvangen

One other expertise near one in every of Norway’s high vacationer websites is Gudvangen’s Viking Valley. Gudvangen is the top level of the favored cruise alongside the world-famous Nærøyfjord from Flåm.

On the shores of the fjord you’ll discover Njardarheimr, a Viking village populated by a global group of Viking fans.

In the course of July, a competition injects additional life into Njardarheimr with Viking battles and wrestling, live shows, storytelling, archery, ball video games and an enormous market going down.

Avaldsnes

There’s loads of lesser-known experiences within the nation too, though many are solely open throughout excessive season. Avaldsnes Viking Farm close to Haugesund is properly located for anybody visiting Bergen or Stavanger.

The farmyard is on a small, forested island. It was right here that Olav Tryggvason was stated to have drowned a gaggle of wizards 1,000 years in the past.

Hyllestad

The Vikings are identified for his or her buying and selling and raids. Nevertheless, Hyllestad offers a distinct image of Viking life. It focuses as a substitute on their expertise as stonemasons.

Over the centuries, tens of 1000’s of millstones had been produced at Hyllestad. The stone quarries left behind are among the many largest cultural heritage websites within the nation.

Different locations and occasions of observe embody Kaupang Viking city in Larvik and the colorful, family-friendly Egge Viking Competition. The latter takes place each different yr in the summertime.

This is not an exhaustive listing of Viking websites and experiences in Norway. However hopefully, it ought to offer you an concept or two to include into your subsequent Norway itinerary.

Past Norway

If you wish to lengthen your journey into different nations, think about Scandinavia. The outstanding runestones of Sweden are an excellent place to begin. You may also try our article on the Vikings in Iceland.