Opened in 1985, the Haithabu Viking Museum is situated on a historical site at the shores of Haddeby Noor (lagoon) near Schleswig. It is a window on an ancient town, dedicated to the archaeology and history of this important Viking settlement.

A "window" on an ancient town
In Viking times, Haithabu (Hedeby) was one of the major settlements in northern Europe. The most important long-distance trade routes converged here. Furniture, household items and tools used in those times are on display in 70 historical buildings, farmsteads and mills, and animals like those kept by the Vikings live in the beautiful surrounding countryside with its meadows, fields and ponds. Horses and sheep roam freely across the site, and they enjoy being stroked. The museum focuses on crafts, trade and on the development of the towns of Haithabu and Schleswig.

Visitors can observe the famous longboat undergoing reconstruction in the boat hall and watch films about the archaeological research and the world of the Vikings. Every day, craftsmen demonstrate their traditional skills. A basket-maker demonstrates how to weave, turners and sculptors create all kinds of different objects out of wood, a beekeeper explains the process of making honey, cheese is produced at the dairy farm and sparks fly in the forge. Since 2005, the guided tours of the historical site available in various languages include the reproductions of Haithabu's Viking houses and visitors can observe their construction at close hand.
» www.haithabu.de

A selection of other local history museums in Germany.