Table of Contents
Introduction
The Vikings played a pivotal role in Sweden’s history from the 8th to 11th centuries. While often portrayed simply as warriors and explorers, they had a rich and complex culture that shaped Swedish society in countless ways. Traces of their legacy can be found across Sweden in archaeological sites, museums, traditions, language, cuisine and more. Join us on a journey to discover the captivating Viking treasures that form an integral part of Sweden’s cultural heritage.
Visiting Viking Archaeological Sites
Many excavated Viking-era settlements offer an immersive experience into daily life centuries ago.
Birka
Birka on Björkö Island is among Sweden’s most important archaeological sites from the Viking Age. Walking through its ruins, you can envision a bustling trade hub and port town that was part of a wider Viking world.
Åhus
In Åhus along the coast, ongoing excavations reveal new insights into the town’s role as an iron production center and important Baltic sea port in the Viking and early medieval periods.
Gotland
The island of Gotland has over 90,000 registered ancient remains including graves, houses, defenses and harbor constructions. View the remnants of Viking life among the picturesque landscape.
Top Viking Museums to Explore
Sweden has museums filled with artifacts and multimedia exhibits offering glimpses into Viking Age society, culture, religion, and warfare.
Historiska Museet
Stockholm’s Swedish History Museum provides an excellent introduction with Viking Age displays spanning weapons, jewelry, coins, carvings and massive runestones.
Vikingaliv
At Sweden’s National Museum of History, Vikingaliv uses multimedia exhibits to recreate Viking environments and engage visitors in their conquests, quirks and accomplishments.
Jamtli Museum
Located in an ancient cultural landscape, this museum in Östersund has a rich Viking collection including relics of early Norse religion.
Viking Ships and Reconstructions
Climb aboard Viking ship reconstructions to appreciate their impressive maritime capabilities.
Viking Ship Museum
In Stockholm, board the only remaining intact Viking Age ship and see two others salvaged from royal burials.
Foteviken Museum
Stand on a full-scale reconstructed longship in this open-air museum recreating a Viking town with inhabitants dressed in period costume.
Lofotr Viking Museum
Take a walk through the largest reconstructed Viking building in the world, Chieftain House, and adjacent 83-foot longship reconstruction.
Viking Festivals and Reenactments
Viking spirit comes alive at cultural events across Sweden where you can see battle reenactments, traditional handicrafts, games and food.
Up Helly Aa Festival
This lively reenactment in Lerwick features a torchlit procession and the burning of a Viking longship.
Medieval Week on Gotland
Gotland’s extensive program immerses visitors in the Middle Ages with entertainment, markets, feasts and thousands in costume.
Viking Markets
Local markets, like those in Birka and Åhus, have craft demonstrations, food, music and reenactments bringing history to life.
Relics and Treasures from the Viking Era
Sweden’s museums hold remarkable artifacts shedding light on this captivating period of history.
Gold hoards and jewelry
Ornate rings, bracelets and necklaces showcase the fine craftsmanship of Viking metalworkers.
Everyday objects
Pottery, wood carvings, combs and other everyday finds reflect details of common life.
Weapons
Deadly iron weapons including swords, axes and spears provide insight into Viking raids and warfare.
Cuisine with Viking Roots
Viking cooking has seen a revival in Sweden, bringing back traditional dishes and cooking methods.
Open fire cooking
Swedish restaurants are bringing back open fire cooking of Viking food.
Dishes and ingredients
Modern Swedish cuisine features dishes with ancient roots like flatbreads, porridges, berries, herbs, smoked fish and meats.
Language and Writing System
Old Norse, the language of the Vikings, developed into modern Swedish while runestones preserve writing samples across Sweden.
Old Norse
Still influencing Swedish today, Old Norse gave common words like “by” (village) and “skip” (ship).
Runestones
Carved Viking Age stones inscribed with runic letters and designs number over 3,000 across Sweden.
Viking Traditions that Live on
Customs originating in the Viking period continue to endure in Sweden.
Asatru pagan religion
Viking religious worship has been revived in recent decades by new practitioners of ancient Norse paganism.
Naming traditions
Given names like Erik and Birgitta trace back to ancient Norse roots still popular today.
Conclusion
Despite the passage of centuries, Viking presence can still be felt across the terrain and traditions of Sweden. Uncovering sites, artifacts and history provides a window into this captivating Nordic culture that shaped Sweden and left an enduring legacy. From museums and ships to festivals, cuisine and runestones, Sweden offers immersive insights into the Viking world. Their seafaring adventures, rituals, ingenuity and daily life continue to capture imaginations and reveal hidden treasures that enrich Sweden’s cultural heritage.
FAQ
What are the best places to see archaeological remains from the Viking Age in Sweden?
Some of the top sites to view Viking archaeological remains and ruins include Birka, Åhus, Gotland, Gamla Uppsala and Håga. The island of Gotland alone contains over 90,000 catalogued ancient sites and artifacts.
What is the most well-preserved Viking ship found in Sweden?
The best preserved and only remaining fully intact Viking ship is the Vasa warship, built in the early 1600s and now on display at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. For an actual Viking ship, the most complete is the Ale Viking Ship dated to around AD 1000, now exhibited at the Viking Ship Museum.
What types of artifacts can you expect to see at Viking museums?
Viking museums contain artifacts that provide insights into many aspects of Viking culture and daily life. Expect to see weapons, gold and silver jewelry, carvings, runestones, pottery, combs, glassware and beads, shields and helmets, coins, clothing items, gaming pieces and religious symbols.
What are runestones and where are they found?
Runestones are carved slabs of stone inscribed with runes, the letters used for writing in the Viking Age. They memorialize the dead, commemorate events and act as property markers. Sweden has around 3,000 documented runestones, especially concentrated in the Mälaren Valley.
What are some immersive events that recreate aspects of Viking culture?
Popular events bringing Viking history to life include Up Helly Aa in Lerwick complete with a burning longship, Medieval Week on Gotland, Viking markets at Birka and Åhus, and reconstructed Viking sites like Foteviken Museum filled with reenactors.