Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings

Categories: Europe | History | Nations | Nature | Travel | World |

There is a museum in the north of Norway, which is not boring, but really interesting. The main object of the Lofotr museum complex is a restored house in which Vikings lived for centuries. Traveling to this place can be compared to a time machine that transports people to an era when the whole of Europe came to fear when they saw the sails of dragonboats with formidable Scandinavians on board near their shores.

Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
In the period from 1986 to 1989, archaeological excavations were conducted in the vicinity of the village of Borg, in northern Norway. As a result, scientists managed to find a unique historical monument. Under a layer of wet frozen earth, they found the 83-meter house of the Viking leader. They dated the building to the VI century, and lived in it until 950 AD. 

Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
From written sources, historians have found out that the last owner of the house was the Viking leader Olaf Twennumbrun, who lived in it with his wife Ashilda and three sons.

The Norwegians did not preserve the excavation site and turn it into a boring museum. Instead, a replica of the Viking house was built on the site of the estate.

For the construction of the estate, professional historians were involved, who helped to recreate in detail the architectural features characteristic of the ancient architecture of the early Middle Ages. Special attention was paid to the reconstruction of the life of the inhabitants of ancient Norway.

Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings

Visitors to the "Lofotr Viking Museum" have a unique opportunity to travel back to the times of mighty warriors and get acquainted with the culture of their ancestors. Tourists are met by guides dressed in early Medieval clothes, who tell about the Viking Age. After that, the guests are seated at the table and fed with food typical of the ancient Scandinavians.

Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings

The main dishes are baked wild boar meat and lamb, and the food is washed down with mead infused with the collection of herbs. There are two exhibition halls in the museums, where the finds found during the excavations and objects of Viking life created by modern re-enactors are presented.

Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings

Farm buildings for livestock and a blacksmith shop are built on the territory. On the pier next to the museum there is a Viking drakkar and a small boat. During the summer months, visitors to the complex take part in sea trips on ships.

Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings
Norwegian Museum Lofotr: a journey into the world of Vikings

However, Norway is not only Vikings. Travelers visiting the country are struck by the harsh, but fascinating nature of Scandinavia. There are many winter ski resorts in Norway, which are considered one of the best in the world.

Keywords: Architecture | Vikings | Historical reconstruction | Norway | Recreation | Travel | Scandinavia | Tourism

     

source