Overgade - A street with Viking roots
Overgade and Vestergade in Odense hold a fascinating history from the Viking Age. Discover how archaeology and urban planning reveal the city’s earliest roots.
Walking down Overgade and Vestergade today, you’re following in the footsteps of more than 1,000 years of history. These two streets have formed the backbone of Odense since the Viking Age, and archaeological finds show that this is where the city began.
Archaeology brings the past to light
Archaeologists have uncovered a road surface from the late 11th century, buried around 2.5 metres below today’s street level. Made from tightly packed small stones, the surface remains solid after nearly a millennium. The original construction was a major project, stretching beyond the main street into side roads and squares like Flakhaven and Skomagerstræde.
A place for trade and tradition
From early on, the streets were a hub of trade, lined with small market stalls. But they also had a ceremonial role. During the annual celebration of Saint Canute, his golden reliquary was carried in procession through the streets—Overgade and Vestergade provided the perfect setting for this public tribute to the saintly king.
From Viking town to modern city
Follow Overgade east and turn near Our Lady’s Church, and you’ll step out of the old Viking town into what was once open countryside. Today, the city has grown around it, but here and there, glimpses of the ancient landscape still remain.