Vikings alive and well in Århus

When visiting Århus, the Bispetorv Square is the perfect place to begin. Starting anywhere else would be historically incorrect as this is the location of the city’s “birth certificate”. The Viking Age will be revived in Århus with a Viking townmarket
on 24th and 25th May.

The area around the ‘Store Torv’ Main Square, the ‘Bispetorv’ Square and the ‘Sct. Clemens Torv’ Square has always been the heart of Århus. This has been the case ever since the Vikings chose to settle on this spot by the bay more than 1200 years ago.

They founded Århus around 770. However, new excavations on Bispetorv within the next couple of years may well reveal that Århus is in fact even older – and thus perhaps be able to lay a claim to the title as Denmark’s oldest city. Today the title is held by the Cathedral town of Ribe where the oldest known building can be dated back to around 740.

It would not be wrong to say that Århus’ birth certificate is located in the basement. Because the best place to get to know the history of the Vikings in Århus is the Viking Museum, which is located in the basement of
the Nordea Bank on the ’Sct. Clemens Torv’ Square. When descending the stairs into the basement of the bank, you actually pass centuries-old middens and end up standing on the street level of the Viking Age – to face the remains of the ramparts which the Vikings built around the very oldest part of Århus in the 10th century. Following an extensive renovation, the Viking Museum, which is part of the Moesgård Museum of pre-history, opens to the public in May 2008.

And during the weekend of 24th and 25th May 2008 something quite extraordinary is going to take place in the old Viking centre in Århus - the Vikings are going to return! In cooperation with Viking specialists from the
Moesgård Museum, the entire area of the old Viking town will be turned into one large Viking market. Viking ships will be berthed along the river, and from here you go up to the market place on the ’Bispetorv’ Square
and the ‘Store Torv’ Main Square, where you can meet jesters, traders and travelling musicians.

Exactly as it was in the middle of 900, comb makers, travelling smiths and traders from afar will be setting up their stalls. Here you will find exquisite Franconian glasses, gorgeous silk fabrics, and exotic spices.