Viking Museum Fyrkat

Take a journey back to the year 980, when Harald Blåtand ruled Denmark, and get a unique insight into the life of the Vikings at the Viking Museum Fyrkat.

Visit Fyrkat Ringborg

The ring castle consists of the historic ring castle Fyrkat from 980 and Vikingegården, which are 9 reconstructed houses that together form a nobleman's farm from the Viking age. Both residential houses and workshops are built of oak with clay-lined walls and thatched roofs.

Fyrkat Ringborg was excavated in the 1950s, and next to the castle a burial ground with 30 graves of men, women and children was found, but one female grave stands out. The woman is buried with unusual jewelery and objects which suggest that she was a völve – a sorceress from the pagan faith. The story of Fyrkatborgen and the buried sorceress is therefore also the story of Denmark in a time of turmoil, when the country's king, Harald Blåtand, turned his back on the old Asa faith and accepted Christianity.

The history of the castle and the burial ground is conveyed in the landscape by the castle, where you will also find a reconstructed longhouse in full size. In addition to Fyrkatborgen, the attraction Vikingemuseet Fyrkat also includes a reconstructed nobleman's farm as it is known from the time of Harald Blåtand. The farm with visitor center and playground is one km from the castle.

 

The story of Fyrkat Ringborg

The location of Fyrkatborgen in Onsild Ådal has not been accidental. In the Viking Age, it was possible to sail from the Kattegat through Mariager Fjord and all the way to Fyrkat. Fyrkat is also located at a crossing point where travelers from the north-south Hærvej through Jutland necessarily had to pass, so it has been possible to control the traffic up through Jutland.

Fyrkatborgen, like the other Danish ring castles, was built according to a very strict geometric pattern. The inner diameter of the castle is 120 meters. A rampart 12 meters wide and over three meters high was built around the castle, which has had a plank-built front. In front of the rampart, there has been a moat approximately seven meters wide and two meters deep.

At the four gates was a wooden opening, from which you went out onto the plank road which divided the castle square into four equal squares. In the four blocks were four identical houses around a square courtyard.

 

Experiences for a Viking

Throughout the season, the Vikingegården provides a framework for many Viking activities, e.g. Viking clothes, bread baking, wool work, blacksmithing and shooting with a bow and arrow. See much more here about the Viking museum Fyrkat and the activities here.

2 places to visit on one ticket!
See prices and opening hours here

Also visit on Facebook: www.facebook.com/fyrkat

Just outside you will find it Mythological Playground - a wonderful place for the children to frolic.

 

Part of UNESCO 

The five ring castles in Denmark have been UNESCO certified and thus part of the World Heritage List.

In Himmerland we have two ring castles. Aggersburg in northwestern Himmerland, which is actually the first and largest ring castle in Denmark. The other is Fyrkat, which is located in Hobro and where there are several activities over the summer as well as a whole reconstructed village, where you can experience "living" Vikings working in the workshops and living as in the old days.

In September 2023, the ring castles became part of UNESCO's World Heritage List-certified - and thus have unique significance and are considered world cultural heritage. Come to Himmerland and visit the ring castles and experience Viking Age culture up close.

 

Green journey by bus and train in North Jutland

It is easy to get around Himmerland and the rest of North Jutland with public transport. Plan your journey by bus, train and Plustur on reiseplanen.dk. 

 

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