Viking Sites & Museums in Norway
Norway is one of the three present-day nations that made up the Viking homeland in early medieval Scandinavia. From north to south, numerous attractions related to Vikings and Norsemen are spread over this vast distance. Too many in fact to see in one trip. Iconic ships and early churches, living history villages and museums, monuments and centres using cutting edge digital technologies are just some of the diverse ways we now experience the Viking Era in Norway today.
Sites, Landmarks & Monuments
Eidsivating
A memorial stone commemorating one of the four oldest and largest assemblies in Norway. According to Snorri Sturluson, Eidsivating was established by Olav Haroldsson in 1022 in Eidsvoll. The law council was replaced during King Magnus the Lawmender’s unification of law in 1274. However, the assembly itself was active until 1620. The town celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 2022 and remains a proud Viking town. The modern commemorative stone is placed outside Eidsvoll church, first established circa 1190, possibly the country’s oldest cruciform church. It has been rebuilt several times, with much of what we see today dating to 1885.
Frostating monument
Frostating was the assembly of the largest of four law regions in Norway. Erected in 1914, the Frostatinget monument is an inscribed stone surrounded by 12 stones from the 12 counties that the regional law covered. From around 600 AD emissaries from throughout the country met in Trøndelag, Frosta at the Frostating to discuss law. King Magnus Håkonsson’s national unified law book was completed in 1274 and replaced the Frostating. Inscribed on the monument is “At lögum skal land vårt byggja, en eigi at ulögum øyda” (Our country must be built with law, and not destroyed with lawlessness).
Gulating Millennium Park
Gulating Millennium Park opened in 2005 as a monument to one of the oldest parliaments in Norway. In use from c.900 AD – 1300, Gulating was one of the largest law assemblies in the country. Covering the western regions, the earliest site is believed to be in the village of Eivindvik. However, the saga of King Håkon Håkonson recounts how he moved the Thing site to Guløy near Flolid farm – where the Millennium Park is now located. The park has a cultural trail and is decorated with artwork by Bård Breivik. Regular events are held.
Gulen Church
The wooden church that stands today was consecrated in 1863, however, the site is older. The only confirmed medieval church in Gulen, also marks the site of the original Gulating. The Gulating was one of the oldest and largest assemblies in Norway. This is where free men of the region could gather and discuss law. It is also believed to be the site of early Christian gatherings. The site is marked by two stone crosses 193m apart, with a natural amphitheatre in between. Discovered in 2012, archaeologists date these crosses to c.930 AD-1030, perhaps the oldest in the country.
Nidaros Cathedral
For almost a millennia this has been one of the most important churches in Norway. It was a destination for pilgrims from all over Northern Europe and is the world’s northernmost medieval cathedral. Located in Trondheim, the ornate church in Romanesque and Gothic style was built over the tomb of St Olav II – the Viking King who converted the country to Christianity. Construction began in 1070 and was completed in c.1300. Since 1814 it has been the traditional place for new kings to be consecrated. Due to fire damage, the cathedral has undergone restoration and rebuilding since 1868.
Royal Hall Ruin
Two metres underground a Royal Hall has lain hidden. In 2017, archaeologists uncovered the walls of the grand Royal Hall outside St Olav’s Church. The church itself is associated with King Håkon Håkonsson who commissioned the church in 1250. It was completed in around 1320 by his successors. The church became the King’s personal church and the earliest seat of power in Norway. Archaeologists believe the Royal Hall was completed in 1300, possibly by Håkon Magnusson. The hall seems to have been built concurrently with the church. The ruins are currently being conserved and the site being prepared for visitors.
Sverd i Fjell
Unveiled in 1983 in the bay area of Møllebukta, this monument was erected to commemorate the unification of Norway in c.872 AD. The battle of Hafrsfjord is recounted in Snorri Sturluson’s Heimskringla. It is this decisive event that is credited to be the founding of the Kingdom under Harald Finehair. The swords in the rock, as translated in English, stand 10 metres tall and were designed by sculptor Fritz Røed. The hilts are modelled on Viking swords found in different parts of the country. They represent Harald and the petty kings he defeated.
Museums, Open-Air Museums & Living History
Avaldsnes Viking Farm
A small, wooded island in Rogaland, Avaldsnes was an important Viking centre from the Bronze Age through to the Middle Ages. The reconstructed Viking Farm consists of a number of reconstructed buildings, including a longhouse, a roundhouse and several other smaller buildings. The most recent addition is the leidang boathouse. Guided tours of the village are offered during the summer, and visitors can try their hands at a number of daily ‘Viking tasks’. Although on an island, the farm can be reached by foot from the Norwegian History Centre and St Olav’s Church.
Lofotr Viking Museum
Located on Vestvågøya island, the main feature of the Lofotr Viking Museum is a reproduction of a major Viking Age chieftain’s hall. This is the longest reconstructed longhouse in the world, and was built alongside and according to the plan of the Viking longhouse excavated in the 1980s. The artefacts recovered by archaeologists are on display in the museum. A trail leads from the longhouse to the Viking harbour, where weather permitting, it is possible to ride in a replica Viking ship.
Njardarheimr - Viking Village Gudvangen
Known as the Viking Valley, Njardarheimr is named in honour of the Norse God Njord, God of the Sea. The village, located in Gudvangen, Norway, was built as a living history, open air museum. The people here are living as close to a Viking lifestyle as possible. Their mission, to tell the story of the Vikings without the restrictions of a museum. Everything in the village was built by hand and shops sell handmade goods made from wool, wood, and iron. This offers an immersive educational experience suitable for all ages.
Norwegian History Centre
The historical landscape of Avaldsnes is of great significance to Norwegian heritage. The Centre is located underground to protect the beauty of St Olav’s Church. Drawing on both historical records and archaeology, the exhibition focusses on the rulers of the coast. It begins with meeting Harald Finehair, the first to unite the country. There is also a substantial section on Norse mythology and the old religion. Plenty of activities such as trying on Viking clothes, learning to play Hnefatafl (a Viking board game), picture bingo, rune writing are available to visitors of all ages.
