Ships and Vikings: Norwegian Museums on Medieval Navigation

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:41

The history of the Scandinavian countries is inextricably linked with navigation. This is especially true for Norway, because it is its border that runs along the coast of the North Sea, from where the Vikings often began their travels. So many sights of Norway are connected with this theme. The main ones are presented in this article. These two museums are highly recommended for a tourist going to Norway.

Viking Ship Museum (Norway, Oslo)

Part of Oslo's Museum of Cultural History, beloved by Norwegians.

In 1913, it was conceived to build a separate room for three drakkars discovered in different years, which had previously been stored in the premises of the University of Oslo. The first, in 1926, the Oseberg ship was moved to the new premises. In 1932, two other halls were opened, which were occupied by the Gokstad and Tyun ships. And by 1957 another one was builta room where items found along with the ships were presented - kitchen utensils, sleds, clothing, weapons and armor.

The Viking Ship Museum of Norway is located on the peninsula of Bygde. You can get there by bus or ferry. Since there are only four halls, it will not take much time to go around it completely. However, there is something to see there.

Oseberg ship

Takens its name from the town where it was discovered (now Tensberg) in 1906. Scientists have established that the construction of the ship dates back to the beginning of the 9th century. It is assumed that it was launched around 820. For a decade, the Vikings used the longship for coastal navigation, after which it became a funerary one. During excavations, the remains of two women were found in it: an old one and a young one. Moreover, the second, as DNA analysis showed, most likely was a native of Central Asia. This is evidenced by fragments of oriental silk fabrics and peacock bones found in the ship. A wooden cart and a number of kitchen items were also found. Both the ship and the cart are well preserved, and give us the opportunity to appreciate the figurative carving, which the Vikings liked to decorate all wooden objects, primarily their ships.

Tyun ship

It was discovered in 1867 and the building dates back to around 900. The ship is only partially preserved, but it was found that it was also used as a burial vessel and was approximately 22 meters long. And it is the smallest of the three ships.

Gokstad ship

This Drakkar was found in1880. It is the best preserved, so you can see it in all its original glory. The Gokstad ship was also used for burial, but it was on ships like it that the Vikings conquered the ocean, sailing from the coast of Norway. In the Viking Ship Museum, this exhibit is the largest: its length is as much as 25 meters.

Museum Yard

On the territory of the Norwegian Ship Museum there is a real shipyard where ancient Scandinavian boats and longships are recreated. And next to the building there is a monument to the spouses Helga Markus and Anna-Stina Ingstad - the researchers who proved that the Vikings visited America before Columbus.

Lofotr Museum (Norway, Borg)

If the Norwegian Viking Ship Museum is located in the capital, then this place is a good reason to visit the Norwegian outback. The Viking Museum "Lofotr" is located in the village of Borg in the municipality of Westvogey, surrounded by picturesque mountains and hills.

The main building is a recreated dwelling of the Jarl - the head of the Old Norse settlement. The foundations of the house were accidentally discovered by peasants in 1983. After being examined by archaeologists and excavated, the house has been completely restored and turned into a museum that attracts many tourists from all over the world.

Exposure

The main building of the museum, the so-called Big House, includes many rooms. These are the bedrooms of the masters and servants, the kitchen, pantries and a long dining room, where the Jarl's guests were invited. The big house also served as the town hall, wherepublic meetings, courts, as well as holidays to which all residents of the village were invited.

In addition to the main building, the museum has a stable, a smithy, other outbuildings and workshops.

In the museum "Lofotr" you can see almost any item that was made and used by the ancient Scandinavians. Tools, household items, clothing, weapons and armor, furniture and jewelry. Each item serves to fully recreate the picture of medieval life.

Interactive tours

At the Viking Museum of Norway "Lofotr" an excursion is not just a viewing of the exhibits, and this is its main attraction. Here you can dress up and be a resident of a medieval village for a while, and the museum staff will play a performance for you, where you will be one of the actors. You can try yourself as a blacksmith, prepare food for a feast or take part in a court session. And also ride a real drakkar - the one that is in the Norwegian Ship Museum. There are two exact replicas here for rent.

In addition, the museum hosts various educational and educational events: lectures on the history of Scandinavia, master classes in shipbuilding, embroidery, woodcarving and other crafts.

Viking Festival

Every year in August, the Viking Museum of Norway holds a festival, thanks to which tourists can immerse themselves even deeper in the atmosphere of the Scandinavian Middle Ages. During the festival herea real medieval market and camps of artisans open: blacksmiths, tanners, tailors and carvers. There are shooting and fencing competitions, reenactments of military battles, concerts and Scandinavian games for children.

By and large, there are not many cultural sites worth visiting in Norway. The main attraction of this country for tourists is its natural scenery, the likes of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Nevertheless, there are enough good places for cultural and educational leisure.