Denmark’s Vikings included on Lonely Planet’s Best-of-Europe list
On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, Lonely Planet announced its annual list of must-see destinations in Europe. On the list is ‘Viking Denmark’; a set of destinations and places of interest within Denmark linked to the ancient explorers who lived there a thousand years ago.
Once feared across Europe for their raids and pillaging, today’s Danish Vikings are a peaceful bunch who have long since replaced their longships with bicycles. Yet the legendary Vikings still provide fascination and for those eager to immerse themselves in a Viking themed tour of Denmark there are many historical landmarks with reconstructed villages, battle re-enactments and even the opportunity to live like a Viking, sail on a Viking longboat and ride on true Viking ponies along the West Jutland beaches.
Be a Viking in Denmark
Grow a beard and get the mead brewing while in Denmark. One of the best places to start a tour is in the picturesque town of Roskilde, the capital of Denmark during the Viking Age, where five long ships are on display in the Viking Ship Museum, excavated from the bottom of the nearby fjord as a unique testament to the Vikings’ seafaring nature.
More Viking treasures can be unearthed at the National Museum in Copenhagen where visitors will find a fascinating collection of ancient finds and Viking artifacts. In the UNESCO World Heritage town of Jelling, two ancient rune stones hold special significance for Danes as the one erected in AD 983 by the Viking King Harald Bluetooth is known as ‘Denmark’s birth certificate’, as it is the first recorded mention of the word ‘Denmark’.
Nearby, in the ancient town of Ribe, visitors will be richly rewarded with an array of Viking attractions. Famed as the oldest town in Denmark, the Ribe Viking Museum displays archaeological finds discovered along its riverbank. Beyond the town’s medieval cobbled streets is the Viking Center just outside the city. Be transported back 1000 years to the sounds, smells and taste of the Viking era inside the magnificently recreated Long House. Then explore the lively and vibrant atmosphere of a recreated Viking market, farmyard and bustling craftsmen’s workshops.
Thousand years of history worth traveling for
The Best of Europe-list is compiled annually by Lonely Planet’s team of editors who cover Europe. See www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-europe-2014
Lonely Planet editor, Noirin Hegarty, says: “Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe 2014 is our annual list of the best places to visit in Europe. Selected by Lonely Planet’s team of destination experts, Viking Denmark is one of the top spots we think should be on travellers’ must see lists this year. Denmark’s wealth of fascinating historical attractions such as ancient burial sites, world class museums and a costumed Viking “moot” reenactment makes it a great destination for those fascinated by these ancient explorers.”
Director, VisitDenmark USA, Bruno Bedholm, says: “Our Viking heritage sites offer visitors a unique chance to get up close and personal with thousand years of history. The inclusion of the theme ‘Viking Denmark’ on Lonely Planet’s list of destinations – side by side with complete cities in Europe – recognizes that the historic traces of this fascinating people are well worth traveling for on its own, and it ties into a renewed fascination of retracing history, uncovering the myths behind the Vikings.”
For more information on Danish Viking history and the sites to explore see
http://www.visitdenmark.com/en-us/denmark/viking-denmark
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