Trelleborg
There are Vikings in Trelleborg!
The discovery of Trelleborgen in the late 1980s was sensational. It was the first Trelleborg to be found in Skåne. Archaeologists determined that the fortress had been a ring fortress approximately 140 meters in diameter. It was connected to the sea via a navigable river and crisscrossed by four heavily trafficked roads. Bryggaregatan, which leads north, follows the same route even today!
For a long time, the town’s name was a mystery. Did it come from “Three Lions’ Fortress”? “Three Legohjons’ Fortress”? Or “the Slaves’ Fortress”? When Trelleborgen was discovered, the name was explained, since ring forts in Denmark are called “trelleborgs.” The word “trelle” refers to the slanted stakes made from split logs that support the palisade.
Vikings, 800–1050 CE
In the year 793, Danish Vikings attacked a monastery in Lindisfarne in northeastern England.
This marked the beginning of a period that is usually referred to in Swedish historiography as the Viking Age.
Although this period was short-lived, the Vikings had a profound influence on history. The image of them as roving pirates who traveled the world and plundered while wearing horn-adorned helmets is not entirely accurate. People living in the Nordic region during this time were primarily engaged in peaceful trade, but they had a knack for organizing and building new communities wherever they settled. Many were farmers or artisans back home. But isn’t the image of the bold Viking—wearing a helmet, carrying a shield and a sword, and sailing a great longship—a bit exciting?
Trelleborg and the area in southwestern Skåne were important during the Viking Age. The region was unusually densely populated, and this has left traces that we can still see today.
Experience the Viking Age
How did the Vikings live? What did they eat, and what were their beds like? And what kind of clothes did they wear? At Trelleborgen, you’ll get a sense of how the Vikings lived. Here’s what you can see in the area:
• Trelleborgen, with its wooden structure—impressive palisades, trellises, battlements, and gatehouse—is based on archaeological finds, traditional craftsmanship, and well-founded assumptions
• The Viking Museum tells the story of the castle’s excavation. The museum building also houses Café Oden and a shop selling handicrafts, Viking jewelry, amber, beads, books, and more.
• The Viking Farm, with its longhouse furnished in period style—from the benches to the textiles—offers a glimpse into the everyday life of a Viking family. The farm also features pit houses and cultivated fields.
• The medieval house has also been reconstructed based on a discovery made at the site.
• The pond outside the castle is a reminder that, long ago, people could travel by boat all the way up to the palisade. These days, frogs live in the pond—it’s really exciting to watch and listen to them!
Throughout the year, the castle offers booked activities for everyone from schools to businesses. During the summer months, the castle opens its doors to visitors with interactive experiences and events, such as a Viking market and Walpurgis Night celebrations.
