Slow down, it's time forViking City of Schleswig
Viking City of Schleswig
Living cultural history
The Vikings lived in Northern Europe and also in the Schlei and Baltic Sea region between the 8th and 11th century. One of the most important settlements and trading centres of that time was the former port town Hedeby. The Schlei was once the merchant's hub between the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
In the course of time, Hedeby has regularly been attacked by enemies thus becoming less and less attractive as a trading centre. In the year 1066, the Slavs came to Hedeby and burnt it down, which subsequently led to its abandonment.
Another settlement about three kilometres away became the Viking's new home – Schleswig. To this day, you can visit Hedeby with its semi-circle wall, which once belonged to the entire fortification erected to protect the settlement.
The most valuable cultural centre of the Viking history is the Hedeby Viking Museum with its diverse world of experience around the true-to-original Viking houses and the medieval fortification – the Danevirke.
From todays viking perspective
Viking Museum, Viking Houses & Viking events
Cultural Gems in Schleswig
Castle of Gottorf, Fishers settlement Holm & Sankt Petri Cathedral
Another cultural gem can be found at the entrance of Schleswig. The Gottorf Castle hosting two of the Schleswig-Holstein State Museums. Here, you can find Gottorf Globe – a reconstruction of the 17th century wonder of the world in the middle of the great Baroque garden.
Not only at the city entrance but also in the city centre you can discover impressive historical traces. The Cathedral of St. Peter with its Brüggemann-Altar towers 112-metre high above Schleswig's old town.
This district is characteristic for its fishing settlement Holm which invites you for a stroll. The close location to the Schlei also offers great walks along the water, regardless of whether you choose the Königswiesen (royal gardens) or the Schlei promenade, where you can spot sailing ships and pleasure boats such as the "Wappen von Schleswig" (coat of arms of Schleswig).
Concrete Tips for your holiday
How to spend a day, a weekend or a week in Schleswig
Historic tours in the viking city of Schleswig
Walking in the footsteps of history
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