Where's the town? This is a question that many people ask when they come to Björkö. The answer is that practically nothing remains above ground of the Birka that existed in the Viking era.

But with a guided tour of the archaeological site and a visit to the museum you can learn more about the town and the people who inhabited this area. The museum is located on Ångholmen, just off of Björkö island, and embedded in a lush green landscape. So don't miss the Birka Museum. It's a must when you visit the island and this World Heritage Site.

The Birka Exhibition

The museum's permanent exhibition features miniature models, archaeological finds and reconstructions. Based on a series of excavations, the models depict the town at the time that it was home to some 700 people. One model gives you a little snapshot of what an early spring day in the 9th century might have been like. While builders hammer away at houses and boats, fishermen are out on the ice. Peek into the houses and find out what the local population is up to. Another model offers a glimpse of the harbour. Ships and boats of various sizes and shapes are dropping anchor or setting off. St. Ansgar, a Benedictine monk who is coming to spread the Word, stands expectantly in one of the boats.

What? Vikings?

There's a fault, a major gap between what we know today about Viking times and the image that most of us seem to have of the way people lived 1,000 years ago. We at the Swedish National Heritage Board want to reduce that gap. The exhibition "What? Vikings?" at the Birka Museum is intended to shed light on the currently antiquated images that originated in 19th century nationalism and are still prevalent among us.

The objective is to create an understanding of how these images of Viking times were created and how they have been used for political and commercial purposes. The exhibition brings out all the things that didn't fit into the 19th century views of the people who lived during the Viking era. Here you can see daily life, the woman, the Laplanders, Bagdad, Byzantium, and as a background explanation: Oskar II and Oscar Montelius.

To find out more, see also Contact below.

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Send a message to the Birka museum

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