Put Ribe Viking Market on your bucket list
Every year around May 1st Denmark’s most authentic Viking Market takes place in Ribe VikingeCenter. More than 500 Vikings from all over Europe meet to join the market.
Visitdenmark – the Danish tourist board – mentions it among the “Top events in Denmark 2015”
Do you dare to look in the eyes of a Viking
In 2015 this event will take place from May 1 to May 8.
We hope you feel inspired to put Ribe Viking Market on your travel bucket list for your next adventure when you have enjoyed (- or have been repelled) by our Viking photos of expressive Viking men’s faces.
Best photos from last year’s Viking Market
If you want to see more Viking photos, check out Danhostel Ribe‘s best Viking photos from last year’s market : Our best photos from Ribe Viking Market and the links on the bottom of this article.
The Vikings will make an effort to impress
Make no mistake – the Vikings will make en effort to impress you.
Maybe Vikings during Viking Age didn’t smell very well – but they wore jewellery, combed their hair and trimmed their beards and used a kind of kohl around their eyes to impress their enemies and win the attention of the women. Since the Viking woman could choose their own husbands, the Viking men had to make an effort in their appearance to be attractive for the women.
Long hair and beard symbolized strength
If longer hair and beard symbolized strength among the Vikings this Arab visiting Ribe Viking market was able to compete with them. He had the longest beard we have seen at the Viking Market. He named himself after Ibn-Fadhlan, an Arab writer who more than 1000 years ago described the Vikings as “the filthiest of all Allah’s creatures“.
Sadly, we will never meet Ibn-Fadhlan again in Ribe, as he passed away last summer. He was a good friend of the hostel and his good humor and kindness will be greatly missed. All honour to his memory.
Some Vikings will scare you…
This Viking may not have long hair and beard, but we think his eyes are scary, and we certainly wouldn’t like to meet him again at the Viking Market.
Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe
Last year Viking Denmark was on the “Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe” list and they said about Viking Ribe that it was “The jewel in Jutland’s Viking crown is Ribe”.
Boys grow up to become men
If you visit Ribe Viking Market yearly, you will see boys grow up to become men. This boy – Birk – is well on his way. We meet him every year at the Viking Market, and as you can see he already manages the impressive look of an adult Viking.
What to do if you miss Ribe Viking Market
Ribe Viking Market marks the opening of Ribe VikingeCenter (Ribe Viking Centre) for the summer season ahead. So don’t worry if you miss the market, there are many other opportunities to get close to the Vikings in Ribe – Denmark’s oldest town – during the year.
Viking places in Ribe, Denmark
- At Ribes Vikinger (Ribe Viking Museum) you can see the authentic finds from medieval times – including Ribe’s Viking era.
- Ribe VikingeCenter (Ribe Viking Centre) hosts an exciting array of events throughout the opening season for adults as well ass children.
- Viking Walk in Ribe. Book a guide at Ribe Viking Museum or walk your own Viking Walk in Ribe town
Viking Warrior training for children
Children 7 to 13 years old can – among others – learn how to fight as Vikings at Ribe VikingeCenter – so remember to put it on your family travel bucket list as well
Photography Exhibition at Danhostel Ribe
In our hostel you can see a Photography Exhibition of photos from Ribe and Wadden Sea National Park . Some of the photos are Viking photos, like this one of a defeated Viking. The photos can also be bought as postcards at the hostel.
Links:
- Viking Ribe in Viking Denmark
- Viking sacrifice of horse to Norse Gods at Ribe VikingeCenter, Denmark
- The Viking wise woman was the late Middle Ages witch
- When pagan Vikings in Denmark sold slaves at Viking markets in Ribe
- Rune stone found in Ribe, the oldest town in Denmark
- Museums and Activity Centres in Ribe and the Wadden Sea National Park
Danhostel Ribe’s photographer Gudrun Rishede took these photos
