Education in the Viking area

The Viking area

The mighty King’s Hall in the Viking Area welcomes young and old guests from near and far!

Your journey through time will take you to the Viking area, which reflects the early Viking Age with finds and source material from the 700s and 900s. It’s a time when the area of Gl. Lejre, located about 2 km from Lejre Land of Legends, with remains of mighty royal halls, burial mounds and shipwrecks testify to the place as a center of power and culture. The Viking Age was a time of upheaval, when the old gods were gradually abandoned as knowledge of the White Christ became widespread. The construction of royal farms and cult centers such as Lejre and Tissø, which the king could visit on his travels around the country, the construction of ring forts, ramparts and other defenses as well as coinage are examples of this state formation. The king’s function was primarily to lead military actions and cult festivals, but also to provide protection in the kingdom and to be the head of the kingdom externally. The king’s interests were looked after by kingsmen and a wrestler, who were local magnates who, among other things, secured the king income from towns and markets and were entrusted to look after the place while the king was away.

Lejre Land of Legends Viking Area consists of the King’s Hall, a shepherd’s house for overnight stays, a cookhouse with a kitchen courtyard and fireplaces, and a chopping house. There is also a tent area for traveling Vikings with 5 sleeping tents, a sleeping tent for teachers, a kitchen tent, a pit house, a courthouse and a craft tent.

In the Viking area, we offer day courses of either 1½ or 3 hours and school camps from one to four nights as traveling Vikings or as shepherds. In the Viking Age, children were often sent away from their homes to be raised on another farm. With their foster parents, they learned new customs and how to behave in the world. As foster sons and daughters of the Vikings of Lejre Land of Legends, you will take on the role of foster sons and daughters and participate in Viking life with activities that promote cooperation and community. You learn to strengthen and support the community you are in, and you learn to be a good friend and kinsman, taking responsibility for your own life and looking out for others. The facilitators work in costume and role as Vikings.

A day as a Viking

Students are welcomed at the campsite or at the Forest House at Kongehallen and participate in everyday life as a traveler or as a resident Viking. You come as foster children to learn about the customs and traditions of the early Viking Age around the large King’s Hall.

There are many chores to be done on such a day. Together, you’ll make yourselves useful with small activities. For example, you can learn how to light your own fire with Viking fire steel. Depending on the time of year and the weather, you’ll work on different crafts. There might even be time for some Viking games. The program ends with a visit to the King’s Hall, where experiences, knowledge and experiences are also shared. You might even get a little story along the way.

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A day as a Viking

Duration

3 hours, from 10:15 – 13:15. The class has two facilitators who work in role and costume as Vikings.
The program supports the Common Objectives in history, home economics, crafts and design, and Danish.

Class level

3.6th-6th grade. The course is organized so that students are given age-appropriate tasks.
Max. 28 students
The class can be split by gender.

Specific learning objectives

The course supports body awareness, movement patterns and craftsmanship as an interpretive framework for understanding values, culture and living conditions in the Viking Age. Students can apply craft techniques and embodied experiences in practice, reflect on this and translate it into new practices in craft, sport and play. Students gain knowledge of non-Christian religions and beliefs.

The price for a class of max. 28 students is 2.550,- for the course.

Viking sports

Encountering the world was the will of the Vikings. They went on expeditions as traders, as explorers and as violent conquerors and raiders. To travel the world, you needed to acquire different skills. But what did it take to travel and navigate in foreign lands? The Vikings’ concept of sport, which is known from Norse literature, provides an answer to this question, and it applies to both physical and spiritual skills and abilities. The focus is on shaping and building strength in body and mind, community and practicing something can also be used for entertainment.

In the Viking Age, play was not just for children. Play was practiced by both adults and children and not as a pastime. Children could practice the skills they would need as adults either at work or in combat situations. Adults could improve their skills by practicing the skills they wanted to master.

Hear stories about the Vikings’ concept of sport and see if you can match them in play and friendly competition.

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Viking sports

Duration

1½ hours, from 10:15 – 11:45 or 12:15 – 13:45.
The class has one facilitator in the role of a Viking.
The courses support the Common Objectives in physical education and history.

Class level

3.-5th grade. The course is organized so that students are given age-appropriate tasks.

Specific learning objectives

The course supports versatile sports practice and the desire to move. Students learn about Viking sports culture and can relate it to their life world. They use their bodies and practice skills for engaging and cooperating with others.

Download the guide to Viking sports here!

The price for a class of max. 28 students is 1.350,- for the course.