Viking Ship Museum in Oslo

The Viking Ship Museum (in Norwegian: Vikingskipshuset) on the island of Bygdøy is where you can admire the best-preserved Viking ships in the world.

A journey into the past

The ships, which date back to the 9th century, once traversed the wild oceans until they were given to their wealthy owners for their final journey to the realm of the dead.
The three main attractions are the Gokstad ship, the Oseberg ship and the Tune ship, which were found in large chieftain graves.
While the fast and maneuverable Gokstad ship was especially popular for longer voyages on the high seas, the Tune ship was excellent for transporting goods such as furs and glass.
A special feature of the Oseberg ship is that it served as the final resting place for two women who were surrounded by swords and spears. This raises the question of what role women played in the Viking Age.

But not only ships were supposed to accompany the Vikings on their journey to the afterlife. Also further grave gifts could secure the archaeologists. These include small boats, sleds and wagons, as well as tools and bridles. Thus, visitors get interesting insights into everyday accessories of the time and learn which textiles, jewelry and household items were used.
But also carved animal heads, whose production must have been very elaborate, have been preserved for posterity.

The culture of the Vikings is not only popular with the locals. The new adventure film Vikingtiden lever (The Viking Age Lives), which is played throughout the day, vividly explains the routes the Vikings took and the challenges they faced.
Even today, the image of the typical Viking who ventured out into the wide world as a fearless and brutal warrior armed with sword and axe still dominates.
Three times a day, "The Vikings Alive" takes visitors on a unique visual journey, including the construction and voyage of a Viking ship. Images from 10 different projectors merge together without a screen directly on the walls, thus immersing viewers intensely in history.

Permanent and temporary exhibitions

Permanent exhibitions offer exciting insights into the Middle Ages or the fascination of Egyptian mummies.
The Arctic exhibition features impressive Tuvan shaman robes, traditional Inuit clothing and tools from the igloos.
In times of struggle against hunger and freezing cold, the natives developed a rich spiritual life consisting of many rituals. In this way, they also tried to balance the forces of nature or make offerings to the deities of the sea.
If you still want to deal with the diversity of the Viking Age at home, you can find appropriate books for adults and children, funny caps, helmets, wooden swords, games or other unusual souvenirs in the corresponding store.
By the way, a new building three times as big is planned until 2025. Here, not only the ships, but also the everyday life of the Vikings will be illuminated more closely.