Lindholm Høje

Lindholm Høje is perhaps the finest Viking-Age cemetery. It lies on the northern bank of the Limfjord, near Ålborg and was on the major route between western Europe and the Baltic.

Burials

The site includes nearly 700 graves, of which nearly 600 have been excavated. They span a period of 500 years. Most of the graves were cremation burials and many are marked out with stones in triangular, oval and ship settings. The majority of the graves date from around the 8th to 10th centuries. The grave goods included personal and everyday items, some of which were imported.

The cemetery was associated with a nearby Viking village, where the foundations have been marked out on the ground.

Museum

A museum adjacent to the site resembles a longhouse inside. It contains objects found during the excavations. Most of the objects come from the Viking village, including a small silver brooch in Urnes style – a large animal intertwined with a snake. (Urnes style is named after the ornament on Urnes stave church, Norway.)

Reconstructions, market and drama

There are full-scale reconstructions of houses and wagons, models and painted interpretations of daily life.

There is a Viking market and drama events held here every summer.