25 Sept 2023
Odense’s Viking fortress Nonnebakken designated UNESCO World Heritage
Odense’s 1,000-year-old Viking fortress Nonnebakken is, with its central role in the formation of the Danish kingdom and its physical size, Odense’s largest and most important ancient monument. The fortress is well preserved and has become Funen’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The designation takes place together with four other Danish ring fortresses: Aggersborg near Løgstør, Fyrkat near Hobro, Trelleborg near Slagelse and Borgring near Køge. The designation will be celebrated with a public festival and a dynamic new light installation at Nonnebakken on Saturday 30 September from 12 noon to 8 pm.
This is without comparison one of the greatest historical milestones for Odense: we are now included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The fact that in a major city moving forward, you can still see and experience where we come from, and that our Viking heritage is recognised to such a degree internationally, is truly something we can all be proud of. This is a huge gift to Odense and to Funen, and it gives us the opportunity to attract even more visitors who are interested in seeing a ring fortress in the middle of a city and who may also want to explore more of Funen’s Viking attractions and cultural heritage.Peter Rahbæk JuelMayor in Odense
UNESCO is a seal of approval for Odense’s cultural heritage, reaching far beyond our national borders. It strengthens the municipality’s position as a cultural gem, with Nonnebakken becoming a central part of how we communicate our Viking history in the future. Together with the Tomb of Saint Canute, Møntergården, the Iron Age Village Odins Odense and exciting audio walks, Nonnebakken will become a gathering point for history enthusiasts and anyone with an interest in culture,” says Søren Windell, Councillor for Urban and Cultural Administration, Odense MunicipalitySøren WindellCouncillor for Urban and Cultural Affairs, Municipality of Odense
The designation of Nonnebakken as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is of enormous importance for Odense. It both underlines and strengthens the fortress’s significance and its role as an icon of the city. The Viking fortress is central to the story of Odense, and that story will now stand much stronger. For the museum, this is a milestone and the result of many years of dedicated work by our colleagues.Henrik HarnowDirector of Museum Odense
The newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Site Nonnebakken is located in central Odense and, during the Viking Age, was home to a vast circular fortress with an outer diameter of 180 metres. The fortress was built around the year 980 and belongs to King Harald Bluetooth’s group of contemporary ring fortresses, which clearly reflect the king’s ambition to unite the Danish kingdom and protect it from external enemies.
Nonnebakken is the only one of the five fortresses that was built next to a town during the Viking Age, fulfilling Harald Bluetooth’s ambition to unite the kingdom. This is reflected in the fact that, after the establishment of Nonnebakken, Odense developed further into Funen’s main town, serving as an episcopal seat and thereby adding extra dimensions to the overall story of the five ring fortresses.
UNESCO designation marked with new dynamic art installation and public festival
Odense Municipality and Museum Odense are marking the designation of Odense’s historic ring fortress as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a new light installation. The installation will open as part of a public festival and can be experienced from 30 September. The ring fortress, which is otherwise hidden beneath the ground, will be made visible through a visual and dynamic installation created by JAC Studios, FortheloveofLIGHT and TAINTEC.
It is important to mark Nonnebakken in its original location in the city. Being able to sense the dimensions, shape and landscape setting of the enormous Viking fortress in the middle of today’s vibrant city is completely unique and will add new dimensions to the experience of Odense. This applies both to the many locals who pass the site every day and to the city’s tourists. At the same time, the public festival surrounding the installation is a great opportunity to thank the city – not least the residents of the area – for their strong support throughout the many years of work to have the five ring fortresses included on the World Heritage List.Mads RungeHead of Research and responsible for the joint application from the 5 fortresses
The light installation, titled “What was and what is”, consists of 230 reflective flags and will draw the attention of Odense residents and passers-by to what lies hidden beneath the ground. During the day, the installation will appear vivid and unique. In the evening and at night, a dramatic play of light will emerge through artificial light and UV lighting on the many flags.
In addition to the installation, the UNESCO designation will also be marked with a large public festival in the park area around Nonnebakken. The festival will take place from 12 noon to 8 pm on Saturday 30 September and will feature a wide range of free activities throughout the day.
Human chain to recreate the fortress circumference
Among the activities at the public festival is a human chain that will recreate the full circumference of the ring fortress. The human chain will be formed at 1.15 pm, and everyone who would like to take part is welcome to join. In the afternoon, there will be warrior training for children, food stalls and musical entertainment featuring bawdy Viking songs, songs and stories from Norse mythology. There will also be activities with Nonnebakken’s residents, the Odd Fellow Lodge and Giersings Realskole, where pupils will show works they have created together with artist Erik Peitersen.
In the area facing the river, a marketplace will be set up for the occasion, with stalls and tents from the Iron Age Village in Odense. Here, visitors can experience different types of crafts, such as needle binding and woodcarving. During the afternoon, you can meet the village traders, and in the evening, you can meet the ring fortress soldiers as they pass the time with games and drinking. Museum Odense will share stories about Odense’s Viking history, and you can join the new 13-kilometre Viking walking route, which will also be inaugurated on the day.
Kind regards,
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