The City Gate to Copenhagen in the Viking Age

It has long been known that, in the Middle Ages, the city gate into Copenhagen from the East was at Kongens Nytorv, but the fact that Vikings may have lived there was unknown. However, that’s what archaeologists discovered as part of the Metro excavations. True, only trenches were found rather than buildings, but they have reason to believe there was a settlement or farm here, northeast of the buildings around the two churches – they just need conclusive proof. The discovery of a highly ornate handle is testimony to human activity as early as the 1000s. A popular myth also speaks of a royal estate in this area – perhaps where Magasin du Nord is today. Archaeological investigations have not yet been able to confirm or deny this theory. But there is evidence that the decision to reinforce city defences in the early 1200s involved merging different settlements into a single Copenhagen.