ABOUT THE VIKING FORTRESS BORGRING
The Viking fortress Borgring was discovered in 2014. Read more about the discovery, the excavations and the museum on the page here.
HIDDEN FINDS FROM THE PAST
In 2014, archaeologists Søren Sindbæk and Nanna Holm discovered the previously hidden Viking fortress Borgring in a field outside the village of Lellinge, close to Køge. Prior to the discovery, the two had discussed the possibility that there was another Trelleborg-type ring fortress on Zealand. With drone footage of the landscape, they could see a perfect circle, over 100 meters in diameter, emerging from the landscape. After a test excavation, their assumption was confirmed; It was a Viking fortress in the form of a ring fortress.
In 2015, Denmark's Castle Center and Aarhus University, with support from AP Møller and Wife Chastine Mc-Kinney Møller's Foundation for General Purposes, Køge Municipality and Aarhus University, began developing a project that would not only excavate important parts of Borgring, but also communicate both the excavation, findings and the Viking Age to interested guests.
The symmetrical shape of the ringfort (144 m in diameter) is today illustrated by tall corten poles indicating the presumed planned cross-section of the rampart.
HOW LONG DID THE EXCAVATIONS LAST?
The most extensive excavations of a Viking castle ever were carried out at Borgring and in the castle's catchment area from 2016 to 2018, with support totaling DKK 24 million from the AP Møller Foundation and Køge Municipality.
The results of the excavations today greatly support the application that the Minister of Culture sent to UNESCO in January 2021 and had the Viking castles included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2023.
FROM ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDS TO PREFABRICATED MUSEUM
At Denmark's new museum, the Viking fortress Borgring, we tell the story of Harald Bluetooth's ringforts. Starting from Borgring, we will take our guests back to a time when one faith replaced another. Where at least half a millennium of worship of the Nordic gods was replaced with the new god from the south: Christ.
Why did Harald Bluetooth make the choice to be baptized? What considerations might he have had? What did it mean for the monarchy, for the country and for the people that the king renounced the Norse gods? And what role did the ringforts play in this connection?
At the Viking Fortress Borgring, we will challenge visitors with objectivity, but also with curiosity, both to discuss history and to reflect on the time and the world in which we live.
With oversized portrayals of Harald Bluetooth, the Nordic gods and objects, with conversations and discussions about the landmark change and with a genuine Viking castle built by the Nordics' most significant Viking king, visitors are invited back to the Viking Age. To a time that transformed Denmark into the country we know today.
The 1,800 square meter experience and research center was designed together with LOOP Architects, while the exhibitions are developed by the museum's exhibition department.
ORGANIZATION, ECONOMY, RESEARCH, ETC.
Museum organization
The Viking fortress Borgring is part of Museum Southeast Denmark.
Here you will find an overview of Museum Sydøstdanmark's management and departments, as well as the names and contact information of relevant employees. Read more
Museum finances
The Viking Fortress Borgring Museum is budgeted at 52.6 million DKK and is supported by:
AP Møller Foundation, Køge Municipality, Knud Højgaard Foundation, Brand af 1848 Foundation, Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik's Foundation.
Research
The Viking fortress Borgring is a center for Viking research. The Center for Viking Age Studies (CVS) is located at the museum and deals with the Viking Age and its adjacent periods based on archaeology supported by, among other things, history, religious studies, place name research and relevant natural science fields.
If you would like to know more, have any doubts or have other questions, please feel free to contact us.
You can contact us by email museerne@museerne.dk or call +45 7070 1236.