Major investment aims to make Odense an international Viking destination

Building on Nonnebakken’s UNESCO designation, Odense will use its Viking history to strengthen the city’s cultural identity and make a central part of Danish history visible in the urban landscape.

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Photo: 24Copenhagen

The city council has therefore approved five specific initiatives totalling DKK 10 million. They are designed to strengthen Odense’s position as a Viking city and attract more visitors. The initiatives mark the first step in a long-term strategy to develop Odense as a cultural and historical destination, with a target of 30% more tourism overnight stays by 2029.

Odense is one of Denmark’s oldest cities, with a history stretching back more than 1,000 years. The city was one of the Viking Age’s major centres of power and trade and is home to a wealth of archaeological finds and historical stories. Building on the UNESCO designation of Harald Bluetooth’s hidden ring fortress, Nonnebakken, in 2023, Odense’s Viking history will now be made more visible throughout the city. The aim is to strengthen the city’s potential as an international cultural heritage destination – to the benefit of both residents and visitors – under the name Vikingernes Odense.

On 29 April, a broad majority of Odense City Council allocated DKK 10 million from the 2026 budget agreement to five specific initiatives. Over the next three years, these initiatives will promote the city’s Viking history with a focus on, among other things, improved interpretation, a signature monument and new art installations. In addition, a series of community-building projects for local residents will be launched to ensure that all Odense residents, from children to adults, become familiar with the city’s unique cultural heritage and help anchor Viking history in Odense’s wider story.

Odense is one of Denmark’s oldest cities, with a history stretching back more than 1,000 years. A chapter of early Danish history was written here, and its traces still lie beneath our feet. With Vikingernes Odense, we are bringing this story to life and making it part of the cityscape for all Odense residents. In doing so, we strengthen both the story of an important part of our shared cultural heritage and our position as an attractive city of culture that can draw even more visitors.Peter Rahbæk Juel
Mayor of Odense

The purpose of Vikingernes Odense is to make the city’s Viking Age a visible and connected part of modern Odense, in the hope of attracting more tourists and inspiring local residents to explore the city’s Viking heritage.

Odense is a city with a significant and long history that we should be proud of. With Vikingernes Odense, we will make this history even more visible and present in the streets, while creating a strong narrative about Odense as a Viking city. Hopefully, this will make Odense residents even more eager to explore their city and dive into its Viking heritage – and surely even more tourists will now be inspired to visit and discover our city. That is my hope and my clear expectation.Lars Christian Lilleholt
Councillor for Urban and Cultural Affairs

A cohesive presentation of Odense’s Viking Age

The city council has now approved five specific initiatives that will form the first key pillars of Vikingernes Odense. These include a continuous visual wayfinding concept in the urban landscape, designed to spark curiosity and guide visitors through Odense’s Viking history. A budget has also been allocated for a brand-new Viking playground in the city centre, as well as a series of high-quality “guerrilla artworks”. A large-scale monument with international appeal will also be erected to give the city’s Viking history a clear and striking presence. The final initiative in this allocation consists of community-oriented interpretation projects designed to create engagement and a sense of ownership among Odense residents.

In addition to Odense Municipality, Museum Odense is also involved in the realisation of Vikingernes Odense.

Vikingernes Odense strengthens and highlights Odense’s powerful Viking story – a story that many more people should have the opportunity to discover. In September 2023, Nonnebakken was designated a World Heritage Site, making it possible to follow a route to important places that formed part of Viking Age Odense. With Vikingernes Odense, we can now make this fascinating story more visible and strengthen it – a story that becomes richer with every new discovery we make. At Museum Odense, we see great interest in Odense’s early history, and we are delighted that the Vikings can enrich the experience of the city for both residents and visitors.Henrik Harnow
Director of Museum Odense

Opening of Harald Bluetooth’s ring fortress will mark the beginning

In addition to the initiatives that have just been approved for implementation, other Viking projects are also underway in the city. At the UNESCO-listed ring fortress Nonnebakken, which today lies buried beneath parts of central Odense, the remains of Harald Bluetooth’s ring fortress will be made visible through architectural elements and outdoor interpretation. At Albani Torv, work is underway to strengthen the story of the original church where Canute the Holy was killed, so that the square will better convey the city’s role in the transition from the Viking Age to Christianity.

Odense Cathedral will also become a key landmark in the story of Denmark’s last Viking king, Canute the Holy, while the Historical Staircase between the cathedral and Eventyrhaven will focus on Odense’s Viking history. Meanwhile, TID – Museum for Odense has a Viking exhibition featuring archaeological finds from the city and insight into everyday life in the Viking Age.

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