Viking Museum: immerse yourself in the daily life of this Scandinavian people!

Djurgården
Culture and Heritage

Who were the Vikings? Often considered as the savage and barbarian hordes that have swept over Europe from Scandinavia, this stigmatized people and this great and relatively unknown civilization fascinate and intrigue the world over. We now know that these peerless sailors wanted to enrich themselves through trade or piracy by leaving Scandinavia and exploring the maritime routes. The Viking Age (around three hundred years between 800-1100) is one of the most exciting times in Scandinavian history. A stay in Stockholm presents the perfect opportunity to learn more about this population, its history and its culture. Head to the Viking Museum on the island of Djurgården for a trip back in time!

sponsored content

Immersion in 8th century Viking society

On the Djurgardsstrand quay in the west of the island of Djurgården, we are greeted at the Viking Museum by Erik, a tall Viking with a long shaggy beard, long blond hair and deep blue eyes that chills your blood... would almost expect to see this bloodthirsty barbarian emerge from his longship to plunder and destroy everything in his path!

Yet it is with a "Hey!" Very warm, with a big smile on his lips and a good-natured air that this actor and archaeologist invites us to enter the grounds of the museum dedicated entirely to these legendary invaders who terrified the coastal communities of Northern Europe. All our imagination, nourished in the cinema, through series, fictional literature and video games, will be undermined by what we are about to discover in this life-size Viking village.

A lively and interactive exhibition

The visit begins on the first floor, in the semi-darkness of an immersive and interactive space. Another viking comes our way. Per is a guide and an actor, passionate about the history of this people. Around a world map, it presents the territories conquered by the Vikings and the great maritime expeditions which shaped this civilization. The geographical origin of the Vikings (Norway, Sweden, Denmark today) probably determined their territorial expansion. The Swedes moved east, around the Baltic Sea and into Russia, the Danes spread to the North Sea, Channel and the Atlantic while the Norwegians concentrated their raids on the British Isles. Per also explains to us that the term "viking" derived from the Latin "vicus" translates to "market place" or "trading post". According to historians, the Vikings formed alliances, brotherhoods of traders bound by pact or contract.

sponsored content

All the knowledge we have about the Vikings today is mainly based on archaeological data and found objects. Thanks to funeral customs, a wide variety of objects and utensils from the Viking age have been preserved. Depending on their social status and wealth, the deceased often took gifts and ornaments to their graves. Archaeological excavations have also brought to light a quantity of objects used by this people in everyday life such as traditional costumes, furs, jewelry, pottery, exhibited at the museum.

Not all Vikings went on an expedition. Most of them were peasants or artisans. They were ranchers of cattle, pigs, sheep and poultry. They cultivated oats, wheat, peas, onions, barley… Craftsmen wove, worked bronze, struck coins… All the facets of this peaceful community life are reflected in the superb museography.

Through films, projections and sound effects, we immerse ourselves in the daily life of this people, discovering their beliefs and Nordic mythology, the architecture of their houses, the complexity of their shipyards, their food, their use. and customs on the farm… down to their own writing: the famous Viking runes! A workshop makes it possible to decipher the runic alphabet used until the 1500s even if this very particular writing remains a great mystery in Scandinavian history. A fascinating visit for young and old!

A journey through the Viking era

The visit continues with the adventure of the saga of Ragnfrid (a Viking woman of the end of the first millennium) who takes us on a captivating journey through Europe of the Viking era over a course of sounds and lights. We then follow Harald and his crew in their adventures based on historical characters and events. Although the exhibition is in Swedish and English, the audio guide and the adventure trail are available in several languages, including French. The Viking civilization will have no more secrets for you!

After going back 1000 years of history, we come out of this museum seduced by these fascinating sailors and this bellicose period of Scandinavia's past. The barbarian myth is now broken to give way to the history of this civilization which is characterized by an impressive knowledge, a strong community spirit, great technological progress and profound changes in society.