Nonnebakken

The fact that Odense was strategically important to the Royal House was emphasised by King Harald Bluetooth siting one of his ring fortresses here. Its name was "Nonnebakken". Odense has since expanded way beyond the former fortress area, so its contours are hard to discern in the modern cityscape. Thus, excavations of the site have proved difficult, and much of our knowledge about Nonnebakken must be regarded as a work in progress. Traditionally, the fortress was viewed as contemporary with the other ring fortresses – around 980. This is based on the find of a silver hoard that included coins from Germany dating to 945-980. However, more recent studies have questioned this, as it became clear that it had been built on top of a previous complex that’s 200 years older. The site of the fortress is just south of historic Odense, close to where Odense River and Lindved River merge. In the Viking Age, these rivers had much greater water volume than today and it was possible to sail right up to the fortress. Nonnebakken was the smallest of all the ring fortresses – with a diameter of approx. 120m and an exterior of 150m, with room for around 1,000 people. Many of them were subsequently found in their final resting place in the graves outside the ramparts. A modest part of the ramparts can still be seen along the Nonnebakken road, opposite Munke Mose park. A playpark is on the site where the Vikings must have dragged their ships up from the river onto the shore.  An info-sign at the corner of Hunderupvej and Nonnebakken explains the background.