News about Kongehallen

Lejre Land of Legends has recreated Denmark’s largest Viking hall

On a beautiful hillside, Lejre Land of Legends is currently recreating the largest royal hall known from the Viking Age in Denmark. The remains of the original building were excavated less than three kilometers from Lejre Land of Legends, in a field in the village of Gl. Lejre. Here, archaeologists had been busy on several occasions excavating the remains of an impressive settlement stretching from the Iron Age well into the Viking Age.

In 2009, the remains of Denmark’s largest Viking Age house emerged from the rubble. At just over 60 meters from gable to gable, the hall was about as long as a modern football pitch is wide, and with its rows of large, thick posts, the structure could support a building with a ceiling height of over 10 meters. At over 600m2, the Great Royal Hall is a unique testament to the culmination of Nordic architecture and craftsmanship in the Viking Age.

Fascinating finds tell a real story

The huge royal hall and the many other impressive finds from the Iron Age and Viking Age suggest that Gl. Lejre had a very special position in its time. Perhaps even as the headquarters of the top of society at a time when Denmark was on the threshold of the Viking Age and royal power.

Even in sagas, legends and other written sources, Lejre’s importance has left its mark. The place is often associated with the mythical legendary royal family, the Skjoldungs, which according to legend and saga included the kings Skjold, Roar, Helge, Rolf Krake, Ragnar Lodbrog and Harald Hildetand. Stories that are myths in themselves, but which, together with the archaeological finds, bear witness to the importance of Lejre in the Iron Age and Viking Age.

The recreated royal hall is part of the reconstructed Viking environment in Lejre Land of Legends. A recreated environment that, with the King’s Hall as the heart of the area, will be filled with exciting activities and experiences for the whole family.

We look forward to taking you on another journey through time – back to the beginning of the Viking Age!

Follow the construction process:

It’s – almost – like being there yourself! Follow the videos here and take a trip right into the construction site. Move your phone or drag the image to see 360° of the construction site where Denmark’s largest Viking Hall is taking shape.

Find all our videos about the King’s Hall construction on Youtube:

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