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Vikings alive and well in Århus

Århus was founded during the Viking Age, and there are still traces of the people who chose to settle by the mouth of the Århus Å river. The original town was situated along the river up to Immervad and in the part of the city where the Cathedral is today. Old street names such as Volden (The Rampart) and Graven (The Moat) mark the limits of the town as it then was.



The Viking MuseumThe Viking Museum
One of the best places to go to get an impression of the city's original size, location and early development, is the Viking Museum which is housed in the basement of Nordea Bank at Clemens Torv. It would not be wrong to say that Århus’ birth certificate is located in this basement.

When excavating the foundations for this building a large number of artefacts and other traces leading back to the Viking Age were found, and similarly the excavations at the Main Square (Store Torv) have provided us with a great deal of information about the city during the Viking Age.

Viking town-marketViking town-market
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.

The Moesgård Viking MootThe Moesgård Viking Moot
You can also meet the Vikings in their everyday-life at the large Viking Moot which is held by the Moesgård Museum at the beach in Moesgård every year during the last weekend of July. This is a get-together for "Vikings" from Denmark, Scandinavia, and the British Isles where they demonstrate their skills with Viking weaponry, riding, craftwork, early "convenience goods", food and much more. It is a colourful and fascinating event where you can walk around and see, smell, taste and purchase the various goods - making you feel that you are back in a different area.

Moesgård MuseumMoesgård Museum
At the Moesgård Museum you can also encounter the Vikings in the hall with the runic stones, at the Viking exhibition, in the reconstructed wooden church - a replica of one of the first small wooden churches in Denmark dating back to the late Viking Age - and in the reconstructed Viking houses.

Museums Kopi-smykker
You can also acquire jewellery as worn by the Vikings. The shop Museums Kopi Smykker in the street of Kannikegade, in cooperation with Danish and foreign museums, makes exact replicas of ancient and Viking jewellery made from bronze, silver and gold.



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VISITAArhus Banegårdspladsen 20 8000 Århus C +45 87 31 50 10 CONTACT