Our first stop on our Northern Germany trip was Hedeby. I was looking for interesting places in the area, and that’s when my fiancé mentioned he’d learned about this place in his Danish history classes. So, we decided to check it out in real life.
A little bit of history
Hedeby—also known as Haithabu—was one of the most important Viking Age trading hubs, thriving from the 8th to the 11th centuries. Perfectly placed at the crossroads of Saxon, Slavic, and Frisian territories, right at the end of the Schlei River where it connects to the Baltic Sea, Hedeby controlled the vital traffic route between the North Sea and the Baltic.
This meant serious wealth. The settlement flourished as a bustling trading center, with links stretching across western Europe, Scandinavia, the Slavic lands, the Byzantine Empire, and even the Arab world.
Hedeby’s story, however, came to a fiery end when it was destroyed by the West Slavs in 1066. Activity then shifted to nearby Schleswig, and Hedeby slipped into history—until rediscovery in the late 19th century. Excavations began in 1900, and by 1985 the Hedeby Viking Museum opened right next to the site.
Thanks to its incredible historical significance and well-preserved remains, Hedeby and the nearby Danevirke fortifications were recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.
The museum and the village
The museum itself isn’t huge, but it’s packed with interesting displays. I just wished there had been a little more information in English. We spent about an hour exploring before heading out to see the reconstructed village.
It’s only a short 15-minute walk from the museum to the village. The weather wasn’t really on our side—it started pouring at one point, but luckily we managed to duck under a tree until it passed.
The village is set beautifully by the water, surrounded by grassy hills that once formed a defensive moat. It’s not the biggest Viking village reconstruction, but there are several houses and a pier to explore. During our visit, only one shop was open and there wasn’t much activity, but the museum website lists special events when the village really comes to life.
After wandering around for a while and spotting some rather ominous rain clouds rolling in, we made a quick escape.
All in all, Hedeby might not be the most spectacular Viking site we’ve visited, but we were glad we made the stop. It’s such an important piece of Danish history, and for my fiancé—who had learned about Hedeby in school—it was especially exciting to finally see it in real life.
