Tue. Nov 19th, 2024

Foteviken Viking Town & Museum Höllviken Sweden

building

Photos copyright Regina D. Utyasheva

At the beginning of the Viking Age, the Nordic countries society was mainly made up of different clan communities.  These settlements were either isolated farms or small villages out on the grasslands.  The landscape was completely different from todays with large areas of wetlands and thick vegetation, so hamlets settled on the plains. The first early cities in Scania (Skane) were Lund, Lomma and Helsingborg.

The Viking town Foteviken is supposed to epitomise this closely populated area a few years after 1134 AD – this is during the late Viking Age/ Early Middle Age.  It was during the year 1134 AD that the bloody battle at Foteviken occurred.  A period of transition as Lund was made archdiocese of the whole Nordic region a stone cathedral was under construction as out in the rural areas where people still prayed to the old gods.

Foteviken Museum is the world’s only reconstructed Viking town and is one of Scandinavia’s biggest archaeological open air museums. This is a living history museum there are no glass display cases here instead you will find an entire Viking town.  Volunteers live in the town so that it truly come alive. The huts are reconstructed using the materials and techniques of the time, as historically correct as possible. As well as the pit houses there is a bakery complex, the weaver’s house, a smokehouse, pottery workhouse, merchant’s estate Guard tower and many more.

Every summer they have a Viking Market with handicrafts and free workshops: wrought iron; ribbon weaving; colouring; cooking; wood carving and lots more. See website for 2015 dates.

And of course it would not be a Viking attraction without a battle! The Battle of Foteviken is re-enactment of an actual battle where it occurred. Nowadays you can take a peaceful stroll through the narrow streets and discover the smithy, tannery, bakery, a large banquet hall, lookout tower, pig pen. Live like a Viking by hiring an onsite cabin, lots more info available on their website www.foteviken.se

feast

Angavallen – Farm and Hotel

Frederikssund Viking Settlement and Play 45 KM from Copenhagen in Denmark

Roskilde Viking Ship Museum 35 KM from Copenhagen in Denmark

Vikinga Tider Löddeköpinge, 65 KM from Copenhagen in Sweden

Trelleborg Viking Fortress, 100km from Copenhagen in Demark

The Viking Experiences and the Viking Games

Denmark Sagnlandet Lejre – Land of Legends 45 KM from Copenhagen in Denmark

Viking Fortress Trelleborg, 60 km from Copenhagen Sweden

If you're thinking of buying something recommended by us, please go via the links on our pages. When you do this we may earn a fee which supports our editorially independent, family business.

By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

Read next