Wikingertage Schleswig

Schleswig and the Viking Heritage

The Wikingertage Schleswig have been held since 2009 in the Königswiesen city park on the Schlei river — a few kilometers from Haithabu, Northern Europe's most important Viking settlement and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. The geographical proximity is no coincidence: Schleswig, in the district of the same name, is part of the cultural core of Viking remembrance in the state of Schleswig-Holstein and represents a vibrant historical image that counters the cliché of the marauding Norseman.

Viking Village, Combat Arena, and Schlei Harbor

A complete Viking village is set up on the expansive festival grounds for three days: blacksmiths, weavers, coin mints, bow makers, cloth merchants, and herbalists work in authentically recreated tents and huts. Warriors practice their disciplines in the combat arena before an audience, and archers compete in a tournament for the "Eagle Eye" title. Faithfully reconstructed Viking ships dock on the Schlei — a sight that awakens all fascination for Nordic seafaring art.

Family Festival and Festival Character

The dedicated children's Viking village offers workshops, hands-on activities, and dress-up fun. Bands from the Celtic-Nordic spectrum provide the atmosphere on the festival stage — the Wikingertage include an Irish Folk Rock Festival in their program, which has become a meeting point for the Pagan and medieval folk scene in Northern Germany. Jesters, fire-breathers, and stilt walkers roam the grounds, while taverns serve mead, honey wine, and grilled food.

A Meeting Point for the Re-enactment Scene

The event is organized by Wiking GmbH, led by Kaj Uwe Dammann. Participants include Viking and medieval re-enactors from all over Europe, many from Scandinavia, Poland, and the Baltic states. The Wikingertage are considered one of the most important gatherings of the year in the scene and attract several tens of thousands of visitors to the state of Schleswig-Holstein annually.