A Guide to the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo

Northern Europe is a roller coaster of tight turns and steep slopes. You visit history in various shades in a dramatically shifting manner, and no, not everything is grey! The 8th-century Norse humans who travelled to Greenland, Iceland, and Vinland and traded and raided across Europe have created some of the most fascinating episodes. This is why, on my first trip to Norway, I made it a point to visit the primordial Fjords and learn about the timeless Viking heritage. The quest eventually led me to the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

It’s one thing to read Viking stories or watch movies about a Viking saga; it’s quite another to go to a museum and see the artefacts in person. When I arrived at the venue, I was taken aback by the entrance, which was flanked by a lush rose garden. Not at all what I expected! The sounds of many chirping birds in the background added to the atmosphere of this simple space. The chirping birds, accompanied by concords, indicated a contact, which I’d remember for the rest of my life. I took a break to sit and listen to the birds and smell the roses.

Anne and Helge Ingstad

Following that, I began to wander around the open space until I came across a large board depicting Viking culture, which piqued my interest. My Norwegian tour guide moved closer to me to give me an English-language tour of the board. She expertly explained the Vikings’ historical, cultural, and contemporary heritage, as listed on the board. Following that, we walked to the late Anne and Helge Ingstad statues on our right. Her husband was a Norwegian explorer, and Anne Ingstad was a Norwegian archaeologist.

In 1960, they discovered the ruins of a Viking settlement at L’Anse Aux Meadows while working together. They also showed how, before Columbus and Cabot, the Norsemen discovered a way to cross the Atlantic and reach North America. As a result, it’s only fair that the museum’s entrance is marked by statues of people who have made significant contributions to the study of Viking history. A cobblestone path leads from here to the 100-year-old Viking museum, which from the inside is a long and narrow resurrection centre.

Three Burial Viking Ships

The remarkable Viking museum, perched on the Bygdy peninsula, houses three burial Viking ships. A collection of ancient artefacts, as well as samples of marine engineering recovered with the ships, are on display at the museum. While I was here, I learned that a group of archaeologists discovered the burial ships Gokstad, Oseberg, and Tune in the Oseberg Fjord about a century ago. After that, a museum was established to preserve these important historical artefacts.

Gokstad, Oseberg and Tune

Gokstad, Oseberg, and Tune are three different boat types that were built for different purposes. These boats appear to be flexible and slender, with uniform ends and a true keel. These silken longships were used as a perfect sail for Royal vessels during the period. Although it is the Viking contribution to shipping technology that has made these boats famous. These sleek ships were able to navigate 20-inch waters thanks to the technology.

This worked wonders for the Vikings, who dominated trade, warfare, and politics at the time. These longships are housed in subjoined rooms with no doors at the Viking Ship Museum. As a result, the interiors appear to be longer. I could see why Viking ships were a perfect example for all as I walked from one room to the next. These marine vessels dominate the craftsmanship section, with their one-of-a-kind structures and distinctive hulls.

Oseberg is the largest of the three ships, measuring 71 feet long and 17 feet wide. In comparison, the well-preserved 9th-century Gokstad and Tune are much smaller. The artefacts recovered with the ship, on the other hand, are kept in separate glass compartments.

A quick walk through these glass cases reveals a variety of tools, miniature boats, sledges, silver coins, ornate carts, and other valuable mediaeval objects. The admission fee to this museum is 11 EUR per adult, but this includes both the Viking Ship Museum and the Norwegian ethnographic cultural history collection.

Mummies and antiques can be found in the Norwegian ethnographic collection. This offer has a 48-hour validity period.

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