with one of the largest being the annual Viking Market on 27 and 28 June 2009, when volunteers recreate Viking clothing, tools and weapons.
www.LindholmVikingespil.dk On 25 – 26 July 2009 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.
www.moesmus.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 3-19 July. This year the theme is ‘Gorm den Gamle’ (Gorm the old, an legendary Danish King) and will see colourful pageants of spectacular scenes, fierce sword fights and stories re-enacted in the open air amphitheatre.
www.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.
http://www.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.
http://www.vikingeskibsmuseet.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’.
For details of the events see
http://www.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.
http://www.middelaldercentret.dk/Engelsk/welcome.html Getting there Getting to Denmark from the UK has never been easier! DFDS Seaways (
www.dfds.co.uk) sails from Harwich to Esbjerg, SAS (
www.flysas.com) and Ryanair (
www.ryanair.com) fly to various Danish gateways from several UK airports.
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