Visiting the Viking Center in Nysäter, Värmland
On a sunny morning, we visited the Viking village in Nysäter, Värmland. This cool historical spot isn't just a museum of Viking life; it’s like a little village, with people dressed like Vikings and fun interactive games. The whole place is run by locals who really get into character as Vikings. We were also super lucky to see the launch of an old Viking boat called Glad. It was such an awesome experience!
The Viking Village
The Viking boat still in it’s winter house
When you step into the Viking village, you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. The whole landscape is beautiful, with the Värmland forests surrounding the village. There are Viking houses, a little market area, a cute garden, and other things that show how Vikings lived back then.
Right by the village there is an indoor exhibition called Värmland Viking Center (Värmlands Vikingacenter). The center, which opened in 2009, has some amazing cool exhibits.
Next to the center there was also a little cafe and a playground. Right between the village and the center there is a little field with an old king’s grave, a little labyrinth and some other artworks.
This old labyrinth was mesmerising!
The Viking Boat "Glad"
As we walked through the village, locals dressed in Viking clothes greeted us. They were getting ready for the big event of the day – launching the Viking boat Glad. The whole village were so happy when they launched the boat.
The boat , also known as "Glad of Gillberga,” is an almost exact replica of an old boat. When they built the replica they even built it the same way as the vikings, and it took 3 years with 80 people working on it every day.
The replica was built between 1995 and 1998 and it had 13 pairs of oars and even a sail. It was almost 18 meters long and 3 meters wide.
We watched as the boat went into the water.
And then all the people rowing the boat. It was just the coolest sight!
Cultural Contributions until today
The Viking Age left a big impact on Värmland's culture. Many local traditions and place names come from the Viking history. The craftsmanship, trading and traditions during the viking Time is still important to the Värmland culture. Modern events and festivals in Värmland often celebrate old viking traditions, keeping the Viking spirit alive.
“Hnefatafl”
There they have so many cool interactive games like this ”viking chess” we played, Hnefatafl. It was like a huge chessboard you could walk on with red and black stones as players. An ancient form of chess, this Viking game also has the main purpose of catching the other team’s king. So much fun!
Viking Village
Visiting and Tips
If you're planning a visit to the Viking village in Nysäter, here are some tips:
Timing: Visit during special events or festivals to see the village at its liveliest. Check the local Vikingaleden website for event schedules.
Engage with Locals: The people and guides are super knowledgeable and passionate about Viking history. Don’t hesitate to ask questions and learn from them.
Photography: Bring your camera! The houses, the boat and everything else in the village is just so fun to take pictures at!
Mosquitoes!: Remember to bring a mosquito cream or spray, in the summer there are very many mosquitoes because the place is located by a forest and the water.
Watching the Viking boat Glad's first cruise of the year was an unforgettable experience. The village, the center, interactive games and the nice locals made our visit to the Viking village so much better than we thought it would be.
There is a much longer and more famous Trollstigen in Norway, but this one had some quite trolls hiding in the forest!
If you love history, fun activities or just the vikings you really should visit this place! For more information, you can visit the Värmland Viking Center website.
