City of Vikings

Have you ever heard of the Vikings? Not everything about them is told according to truth: for example, they didn't have horns on their helmets. Vikings were skilful seafarers who made long trading journeys with their sailships, but they also went on raids. Other than that, they were very well organised craftsmen. More than 1,000 years ago, Haithabu was one of their most important trading centres. Why? The town is placed exactly in the middle between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. The Vikings shipped goods from the far east and the far north to Haithabu via the Baltic Sea and the Schlei firth. From there, they travelled by ox cart to the Treene river. Then again by ship to the North Sea - and into the wide world. The land route between Haithabu and the Treene was protected by the Danewerk. This is a rampart, through which there was only one gate. Today, Haithabu is a museum, where you can learn most everything about the Vikings. The Danewerk also still remains.

Tip: Five large stones with strange characters have been found around Haithabu. They are runes - an alphabet, used by the Vikings. Maybe you can try them out with your friends as a "secret script"?