Birka on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren was the centre of the prosperous Mälaren valley in the Viking Age. The town was founded in the eighth century and became an important trading site as well as an international harbour for visitors from far and near. On the island of Adelsö, on the other side of the narrows, lies Hovgården, where there is an unusually large number of remains of Viking Age kings, chieftains, and farmers.

Birka was the first real town in Sweden, with about 700 inhabitants in its heyday. It was founded by the king - who lived on Adelsö across the sound - with the aim of expanding and controlling trade in the region. The king maintained order in the town and protected it from being plundered of its wealth.

At Hovgården on Adelsö there are many valuable remains from the Viking Age onwards. At the medieval church there are a number of large burial mounds, the three biggest of which are called the Kings' Mounds. In the Viking Age there was also a harbour with a breakwater around a sheltered lagoon. In the harbour there is a rune-stone placed to face approaching boats. The royal estate from the Viking Age, situated up on a ridge, was closely linked to the town. From here Birka and the whole Mälaren valley could be governed by the king of the Swedes. The medieval castle of Alsnöhus was later built on top of the royal estate. It was here in 1279 that Sweden's estate of the nobility was founded.

Thanks to written sources, we know that Ansgar, a young Benedictine monk, came to Birka to preach the Christian gospel. His mission lasted a year and a half, during which time many of the townspeople were baptized. But Birka never became a Christian community. Instead pagans and Christians lived side by side until the end of the tenth century. Birka's role was then taken over by Sigtuna, and the Viking town on Björkö was abandoned. In the fourteenth century the once so important Alsnöhus was also left to decay, and Hovgården thus lost its importance.

On Björkö there is now a museum. The main exhibition tells the fascinating story of Birka and exhibits objects from the archaeological excavations. Furthermore, each summer there is a more in-depth thematic exhibition.

Birka and Hovgården were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1993. The justification of the World Heritage Committee was:

"The Birka-Hovgården area is a well preserved example of the Vikings' trading networks during the two centuries when they expanded economically and politically in Europe. Birka is one of the most complete and untouched Viking Age trading sites from the years 700-900."

Contact:

Birka Museum - Phone: +468-560 514 45.

See also:
Birka - The Viking Town - Birka - The Viking Town.
Birka and Hovgården - UNESCO.