In the Viking Age, Autumn was a time when the harvest had to be harvested, the warriors came home from expeditions, and the boats had to be maintained as Winter approached.
The days were getting shorter and darker. In the evening, people would gather around the fire, sharing stories about gods and heroes to pass the time.
The Autumn holiday activities at the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum take place around the Viking tents at Strandengen, where the lit bonfires will create a cozy atmosphere, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in life as it was 1000 years ago.
At Strandengen, the "Havhingsten fra Glendalough" longship will be available via a small bridge, so it will be easy for guests to get aboard. The longship is the world's longest reconstruction of a Viking ship - a full 30 meters long.
Viking skill training
In the tent camp at Strandengen, visitors will be able to try their hand at skills a Viking would need when spring came: throwing mooring rope, fighting with a sword, or strength training in a game of tug of war.
Furthermore, guests will be able to bake biscuits and flatbread made according to a recipe from the Viking Age by the atmospheric fires on site.
Those who fancy good stories can take a seat in the storytelling tent and hear exciting stories about the fantastic ships from Nordic mythology.
There, they will be able to find out more about Frej's fantastic ship "Skibladner," which always had the wind at its back and could be folded so that it could fit in the palm of one's hand.
Facts about stories from Norse mythology
- Schedule: Every day at 11:00 AM and at 3:00 PM in Danish, and 1:30 PM in English
- Duration: Approx. 30 minutes
A school tour at the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum. Photo: Roskilde's Viking Ship Museum
'Mission Valhalla' family tour
Twice a day, children and adults can participate in the "Mission Valhalla" family tour, which focuses on Norse mythology.
In the tour, the children will help the god Tyr regain his lost courage by solving a series of tasks that require cleverness, courage, and cooperation.
The tasks to be solved are all based on maritime life in the Viking Age and the fantastic stories from Nordic mythology.
Facts about the "Mission Valhalla" family tours
- Schedule: Every day at 12:30 in Danish and 2:30 PM in English
- Duration: approx. 30 minutes
The shipyard
At the shipyard, visitors will be able to see the initial work on the Skuldelev 5 reconstruction project.
Skilled boat builders will work on the reconstruction of a Danish warship from the end of the Viking Age and answer questions about tools and clinker building techniques.
At the boatyard, museum guests will also be able to test their boatbuilding skills in an open workshop.
Special tour - the Skuldelev 5 and the reconstructions
The Skuldelev 5 tour is based on the history of the Skuldelev 5 ship and its replica, which was previously built by the Viking Ship Museum's shipyard, as well as the new reconstruction.
The tour passes the original Skuldelev 5 ship in the Viking Ship Hall, the Helge Ask reconstruction in the museum harbor, and the new reconstruction project at the shipyard, which started this year.
Guests will get the chance to learn more about the construction project, the importance and the very essence of experimental archeology, and the work at the shipyard.
Why is the Skuldelev 5 being recreated again? What is being done differently now? These and other questions will be answered.
Facts about the Skuldelev 5 tour
- Schedule: Every day at 11:30 AM in English and 2:00 PM in Danish
- Duration: Approx. 1 hour
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General information
- Activities, opening hours: October 15 – 23, 2022: 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Museum opening hours: All days, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Admission:
- Children and young people under 18 can enter the museum free of charge.
- Adults: DKK 160
- Family ticket for two adults and children under 18: DKK 300.00
You can find out more about the numerous other Autumn activities at the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum here.
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