Denmark

One of the most well known structures of the late Viking Age are the round fortresses, like at Aggersborg, Fyrkat and Trelleborg, both the one in Sweden and the one in Denmark near Slagelse. Unlike its Skånske counterpart, the Slagelse Trelleborg has never been overbuilt. The ruins were still visible at excavation and the earthen rampart is now rebuilt up to its original size: 180 metres in diameter.

The archaeological faculty of the University of Århus is situated in the old mansion Moesgård. It is well located, away from the city but not too far and surrounded by a forest like park adjacent to the beach. The 18th century Manor House of Moesgård is also home to an important archaeological and ethnographic museum. The permanent exhibition presents many unique archaeological finds from prehistoric Denmark.

Bornholm's Medieval Center, founded in 1996, is a historical experience center with a focus on the years 1300-1450, situated on 14 hectares of scenic surroundings with rivers, forests and rocky outcrops. The medieval center's main attraction is a fortified grand mansion with towers and frescoed farmhouse as well as other buildings for daily chores, surrounded by an earthen wall with palisade. In addition, the medieval center includes a small watermill, a number of smaller craft houses, gardens and path systems and spaces for various old animal breeds. There are also daily firings with various old gun types.

Ertebølle is a famous Danish Mesolithic site. In the 19th century, a large so called ‘køkkenmødding’ (shell midden) was excavated. The diet in those days was mainly seafood. Other more recently excavated Ertebølle (ca 5,300 BC-3,950 BC) sites are Skateholm and Tybrind Vig.

As one of the first “offspring” of the 1960s Lejre approach, Vingsted Historiske Værksted was set up near Bredsten. It still plays an important role in the Danish network of archaeological education centres (Historiske Værksteder or historical workshops).

The village Albertslund is not far from Copenhagen. It is a new town, with many new traditions and ways of working and living together – the population is rich in children and nationalities. The Vikingelandsbyen is a bridge in the meeting of cultures, looking back at the travels of Vikings to all different countries.

It was already known for a long time that near Hobro in Northern Jutland, Fyrkat was one of the sites where a Viking Age round fortress was situated. The site is strategillay located in a protected bay inside a fjord on the banks of a waterway that facilitated commercial exchange.

One of the first offspring of the Lejre approach within Denmark itself was Næsby, in 1973. It is situated in the northern outskirts of Odense in the breathtaking green landscape of the Stavisådal. It is by now a large centre with many reconstructed Iron Age houses (more particular, 0 – 400 AD), like a small village.

In a large nature area, in the middle of Jutland, an ethnographic open-air museum is situated, Hjerl Hedes Frilandsmuseum. Their purpose is to have, maintain, develop and communicate its collection of things and knowledge about building style, the history of the village, the crafts and the cultural landscape.

The area around Ribe, in South Jutland, plays an important role in Viking Age. Since about 1980, there have been major excavations, followed by setting up Ribe Vikingecenter. Ribe town museum is by the way a good combination visit.