Sea-borne assault

Towards the end of the 11th century, the Vikings established a system of blockades in Roskilde Fjord to protect Roskilde, the then capital of Denmark, from enemy attack by sea. The five ships on display in the Viking Ship Hall were all part of a blockade established in the Peberrende, a natural channel near Skuldelev, some 20 km north of Roskilde.

In the Viking Ship Hall you can see the captivating story of an envisaged Norwegian naval assault on Roskilde. The story is told by means of posters, models and watercolour paintings. We follow the mobilisation of the Norwegian armada and its voyage from Southern Norway to the mouth of Roskilde Fjord.

The attack by the Norwegian Vikings is vividly described – hour by hour.

The exhibition describes the ships and weaponry, and recounts the history of the Peberrende blockade and its function as a protective barrier.