Stay : In the footsteps of the Vikings
The ancestors of the Swedes left their mark on the country, and many well-preserved Viking remains can be seen in several "key places" in Sweden. This route takes you on a journey through the country, discovering this lost people. The route starts in Trelleborg in the south, where the ferries from Germany arrive, and ends on the island of Gotland.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
11 days
€€ - Charm and comfort
Detail of the stay : In the footsteps of the Vikings - 11 days
Day 1: Trelleborg, the Viking atmosphere
Steps: Stockholm, Uppsala, Ystad
When you arrive in Trelleborg, you enter the Viking atmosphere at first sight, since this city is home to one of the most important remains from that period: the fort of Trelle, which gave its name to the city. In the heart of the city, a few hundred metres from the ferry pier, there is a reconstructed part of this former fortress. A quarter of the palisade that surrounded Trelle Fort (around 1000) now stands again and can be visited. It should be noted that these are Danish and not Swedish Viking remains, since southern Sweden was then occupied by the Danes, while the Swedish Vikings were rather based around Stockholm and Uppsala. Following this visit, a few hours of excursion will take you to a superb and mysterious site that could be a Viking tomb. This is the alignment of menhirs from Ales Stenar, in Kåseberga, whose origin remains a mystery. To reach it, take route 9 to Ystad, then, about ten kilometres after Ystad, exit in the direction of Kåseberga.
FORT DE TRELLEBORG
Day 2: The historical museums
Steps: Skanör-Falsterbo, Malmö, Lund
From Trelleborg, head towards Malmö and take the E100 towards Höllviken. There, at the entrance to the village on the right, there is a sign for the Foteviken Museum, which shows the life of the Vikings in the area more than 1,000 years ago. There are reconstructed dwellings and boats. Leaving Höllviken, you reach Malmö and can make a short trip to Lund, 15 km away, which was founded in Viking times, around 990, but of which few traces remain today (it has become an important university town), except in the collection of old objects in the Historical Museum.
MUSÉE DE FOTEVIKEN
Day 3: Ancestral boats
Steps: Göteborg
Direction Gothenburg, which is reached after 280 km on the E6/E20 motorway. There, a visit to the Stadsmuseum allows you to discover the Äskekärrskeppet, a Viking ship discovered in 1933.
Day 4: In the footsteps of the Danish Vikings
Steps: Jönköping
After Gothenburg, take route 40 east and Jönköping, stop on the Lake Mälaren road. We then leave the remains of the Danish Vikings to take an interest in the Svears, the Swedish Vikings who settled on the east coast of the country at the time. From Jönköping, take the E4 motorway northwards along the east coast of Lake Vättern. Near Ödeshög is the site of Rökstenen, one of the most important runic stones in the country (runic stones are generally erect stones, which the Vikings used as a writing support). Thanks to these, which are abundant in Sweden, it has been possible to understand their culture and find traces of their history. We can then stop in Motala, a little further north on Route 50.
Day 5: The mysterious runic stones
We take the road back to Västerås, first on Route 50 to the north, then on the E20 to Arboga and on the E18 to Västerås. The area of Sweden that is the densest region of the Viking era, particularly in runic stones, is then entered: this area is concentrated in the regions of Uppland, Västmanland, Gästrikland and the Stockholm region. On leaving Västerås in the direction of Stockholm, you can visit one of Sweden's most interesting funeral sites, Anundshög. On this site, huge mounds of earth constitute the highest Viking tombs found in the country. A few runic stones complete the landscape.
Day 6: The graves of Swedish warriors
Leave Västerås on the E18 to Enköping, then take Route 55 to Uppsala. Among the many museums in this city, the Gustavianum Museum displays some objects from the Viking era (helmets, shields, boat parts). Take the opportunity to visit the site of Gamla Uppsala (the old town), which is located outside of present-day Uppsala in the northeast. You will find there three large royal tombs dating from the 6th century, when Gamla Uppsala was supposed to be the central power of the Swedish Vikings. There is also a historical museum.
Day 7: The disappearing universe of Årsunda
Steps: Uppsala
From Uppsala, a trip to the Viking village of Årsunda will take you back to their lost world. This reconstructed village offers activities revolving around Viking culture. Tools, graves and rune stones have been found in the vicinity of this site. To get there from Uppsala, just follow the road 272 to the northwest.
Day 8: In the land of the carved head....
Steps: Sigtuna, Stockholm, Uppsala, Birka
Leave Uppsala for Stockholm. Halfway through, you can't miss the site of Sigtuna, one of the heart of the Swedish Viking civilization. On the E4 motorway, exit at Märsta in the direction of Sigtuna. This city, the oldest in Sweden to still exist today, was founded around 970. It succeeded Birka as the capital of the Svear people. Its alleys have kept the layout that was theirs in those ancient times. There are many runic stones, remains of churches dating from the Christianisation of Scandinavia, and a museum (Sigtuna Museum) containing many Viking remains and objects brought back from their conquests throughout Europe. Among them, a tiny carved head, which has become a symbol of this lost people.
SIGTUNA MUSEUM
Day 9: Birka, the Viking counter
Steps: Stockholm, Sigtuna, Birka
Once you arrive in Stockholm, it's time for you to get in the water! Get on a boat in front of Stadshusbron's town hall to one of Sweden's most important Viking sites: the village of Birka. Dating back to the 8th century, Birka was the most important Viking trading post of that time and a major trading centre. The city was abandoned around the year 1000 in favour of Sigtuna, but archaeological excavations continuously reveal treasures from this Viking period. The Viking Museum will help you to better understand the lives of these people.
HÔTEL DE VILLE (STOCKHOLMS STADSHUS)
Day 10: Stop on the island of Gotland
A final step is to leave Stockholm for Gotland Island, which was an important trading centre for the Vikings. To do so, take Route 73 south to the port of Nynäshamn, then take the ferry to Visby.
Day 11: Vikingabyn, a reconstructed Viking village
Steps: Gammelstad, Säffle, Östersund, Visby, Arvika
Once you arrive in Visby, you can visit the Gotlands Fornsal museum, which presents all the treasures of the past found on the island, including a beautiful collection dating from the Viking era. There are objects and coins from Russia, Byzantium and even Arabia. If you want to have one last look at the people and their culture, you can visit Vikingabyn, a Viking village where life scenes and battles are re-enacted in summer. It is located south of Visby, near Tofta. Viking relics are not limited to these few main sites: you can find rune stones all over the southern half of the country (the most "Nordic" one is on the island of Frösön, in Östersund). If you want to enjoy a boat trip, it is possible to follow the Viking route between Säffle and Arvika, north of Lake Vättern.
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