Medieval Church & Viking Village
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Port
Haugesund, Norway
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Activity Level
Moderate
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$179.95
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 3½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
Stretch your legs and your imagination during this half-day excursion that offers insight into Norway's history of Viking pillage and plunder, and into the families who stayed behind the front lines to tend the farms and cattle. From AD 800 to 1066, the people we know as the Vikings raided, conquered and colonized parts of Europe. Yet they lived simple lives when they returned to their rural settlements in Norway.
Around AD 872, King Harald Fairhair, the first monarch to claim sovereignty over all of Norway, lived in a village named Avaldsnes on Karmøy Island. You'll travel across the Karmsund Bridge that links Karmøy Island to Norway's mainland. Once on the island, enjoy a drive through an other-worldly landscape of verdant forests, heather-clad hills and rolling pastureland en route to Avaldsnes.
Located on the island's northeastern side, Avaldsnes is recognized as Norway's oldest kingdom. It was a place of great power, where legendary battles between kings determined the fates of each warrior tribe. The royal estate flourished here until 1450 when powerful feudal lords were weakened and the aristocracy finally left the island.
Your walk through Viking history begins at St Olav's Church. Construction began around AD 1250 by King Haakon Haakonson. Two hundred years later, the royal chapel was finished. The stone church you'll see today is steeped in Viking lore. As you walk about the church, pay special attention to the north wall. Here, you'll find a standing stone called the Virgin Mary's Needle, leaning just inches from the wall. According to legend, Judgment Day will be upon us when the 22-foot spire finally touches the wall.
Gain further insight into the world of Vikings at the Nordvegen History Center. Meet 'Harald Fairhair,' who will guide you through 3,500 years of Norwegian history. Learn about the kings who controlled the coast, hear the kings' sagas and old songs, and discover how sorcerers, female warriors and Norse gods played a major role in Viking life.
A different look at Avaldsnes' past greets you at the Viking Farm on Bukkøy Island. Set amid picturesque surroundings, the settlement salutes the farmer -- one of the most important members of Viking society. Meander among the reconstructed 1st-century buildings, typical of Viking times, for a sense of life unseen for more than 2,000 years.
At the end of this adventure, you'll rejoin your coach and return to the pier.
Notes:
Participants must walk about 400 yards at the History Center. Terrain includes a few stairs, plus walking and standing for about one hour and ten minutes. About 100 yards of walking is required at the church. The reconstructed farm is situated on Bukkøy Island and is about 15 minutes' walk from St Olav's Church on Avaldsnes. Inside church visit(s) may not be possible if religious services are being held. Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience.